Sprite Lake

Sprite Lake earns an F: phosphorus readings still being added and clarity at 3.0 ft signal heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed. 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. Sprite Lake reaches 16 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. The lake is compact at 12 acres, with 0.7 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Sprite Lake ranks 185 of 187 in St. Louis County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Sprite Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The lake's fish records list 1 species — a varied community without one dominant gamefish. No formal public access is documented at Sprite Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.