Shumway Lake

Shumway Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Minnesota average.

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. A maximum depth of 23 ft puts Shumway Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 74 acres, Shumway Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Within the 53 graded lakes of Aitkin County, Shumway Lake sits at rank 51, near the bottom of the county list.

No invasive species are currently listed at Shumway Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 6, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.