Town Line Lake

On the LakeGrade scale Town Line Lake grades a B, with clarity at 6.6 ft and 11 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Minnesota median. Secchi readings are the weakest of the three parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. At only 11 ft deep, Town Line Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. Town Line Lake covers 698 acres alongside 8.3 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Within the 133 graded lakes of Cass County, Town Line Lake sits at rank 106, near the bottom of the county list.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Town Line Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 8, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. A documented public access point at Town Line Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies back the grade, so the letter should hold steady absent a major watershed shift.