Shady Lake

Shady Lake earns a D — measurements through 2021 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. Shady Lake is a shallow lake at 13 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. At 144 acres, Shady Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 9.2 miles of shoreline. Shady Lake sits at rank 3 of 5 in Olmsted County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Shady Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Shady Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Shady Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.