Taft Lake

Taft Lake earns an F: phosphorus readings still being added and clarity at 3.3 ft signal heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed.

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. Taft Lake reaches 45 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. The lake is compact at 14 acres, with 0.7 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Within the 95 graded lakes of Hennepin County, Taft Lake sits at rank 90, near the bottom of the county list.

Taft Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2021, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. Taft Lake's fishery is anchored by muskellunge, with 15 documented species in total — a destination water for muskie anglers. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.