Stowe Lake

Stowe Lake earns an F: 106 µg/L of phosphorus and clarity at 2.6 ft signal heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

At a TSI of 67, Stowe Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. Stowe Lake is a shallow lake at 14 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. Stowe Lake covers 377 acres alongside 4.1 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Stowe Lake ranks 50 of 51 in Douglas County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Zebra mussels have been documented at Stowe Lake, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. Walleye are documented at Stowe Lake, one of 14 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Stowe Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 7 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 13. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.