Store Lake
Store Lake in Polk County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 193 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 35 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 49.88 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 50 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Store Lake →
Next lake in Polk County
Store Lake is a 50-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Store Lake ranks #19 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 193 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 35 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 193 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 35 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Store Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Store Lake in Polk County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Store Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Store Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Surface Area | 50 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 92% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Store Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2009-08-03 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 45.38 | 0.17 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 34.64 | 0.71 lb |
| Bluegill | 12.58 | 0.23 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 2.89 | 0.77 lb |
| Walleye | 1.56 | 2.16 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.11 | 3.05 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Yellow Perch
Brown Bullhead
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
From the 2009-08-03 survey
Store (Peterson) Lake is a 52-acre, eutrophic lake in eastern Polk county that is currently vulnerable to winterkill. The lake and its fish community have undergone dramatic changes since it was first surveyed in 1983. At the time of the 1983 survey, Store was not considered a winterkill lake. Water clarity was good…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Store Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StoreFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — StoreFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.22 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +11.25 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.11 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #19 of 19 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Store Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Store Lake
What is the water quality grade for Store Lake?
- Store Lake in Polk County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 193 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 35 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 49.88 acres.
Is Store Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Store Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 35 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Store Lake?
- Store Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 49.88 acres.
Explore Store Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
68 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA68 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder