Square Lake

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

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. Square Lake is a shallow lake at 7 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. The lake's 123 acres and 3.3 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Within the 142 graded lakes of Lake County, Square Lake sits at rank 119, near the bottom of the county list.

No invasive species are currently listed at Square Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 7 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.