St. Patrick Lake
Becker County, MinnesotaEutrophic
St. Patrick Lake earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade. Secchi readings are the weakest of the scored parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.
At a TSI of 56, St. Patrick Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Within the 93 graded lakes of Becker County, St. Patrick Lake sits at rank 83, near the bottom of the county list.
St. Patrick Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2022, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for St. Patrick Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at St. Patrick 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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-06-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 24 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 24 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #83 of 93 lakes in Becker County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
St. Patrick Lake holds Grade C. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- APickerel LakeBecker County · mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
- AFloyd LakeBecker County · mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
- ADetroit LakeBecker County · mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
- BLittle Floyd LakeBecker County · mi · Higher grade (C → B)
- BMud LakeBecker County · mi · Higher grade (C → B)
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near St. Patrick Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
St. Patrick Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Stakkelhouse Lake (completed 1953), built primarily for fire protection, stock, or small fish pond on the PELICAN RIVER - TR; gravity-type dam, 11 ft tall and 32 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 50 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 60 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Gregerson and Peterson
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00746 · Operator website
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-06-09
Monitoring stations: 1