Wagosh Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Wagosh Lake at a C: clarity at 8.0 ft, phosphorus readings still being added, and a TSI of 47 signal an intermediate trophic state.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Wagosh Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. Wagosh Lake is a shallow lake at 10 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. Wagosh Lake is small — 42 acres alongside 2.0 miles of shoreline — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Wagosh Lake sits at rank 121 of 187 in St. Louis County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Wagosh Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2022, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Wagosh Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. 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.