Sturgeon Lake 2

Sturgeon Lake 2 earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade. Of the three parameters, phosphorus is the worst — at 88 µg/L of phosphorus, it keeps the lake susceptible to algal blooms in warm years.

A TSI near 44 places Sturgeon Lake 2 in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. 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. Among the 10 graded lakes in Goodhue County, Sturgeon Lake 2 sits at rank 3, above the county median.

Zebra mussels have been documented at Sturgeon Lake 2, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Sturgeon Lake 2, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. Multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies back the grade, so the letter should hold steady absent a major watershed shift.