Store Lake

Store Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Minnesota average. Phosphorus is the parameter holding the grade back — runoff from the surrounding watershed appears to keep nutrient levels elevated through the summer.

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 19 ft puts Store Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. The lake is compact at 50 acres, with 1.1 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Within the 20 graded lakes of Polk County, Store Lake sits at rank 16, near the bottom of the county list.

Store Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Store Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Store 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.