Uff Lake
Polk County, MinnesotaEutrophic
Uff Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
At a TSI of 56, Uff Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. 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. Within Polk County's 20 graded lakes, Uff Lake ranks 12 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.
No invasive species are currently listed at Uff Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Uff Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Uff Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 35 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 35 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.25 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 20 lakes in Polk County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Uff Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BSand Hill LakePolk County · mi · Higher grade (C → B)
- BPoplar LakePolk County · mi · Higher grade (C → B)
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
EPA Impairment Status
Uff Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN60-0119-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-09-23
Monitoring stations: 1