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. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Wagosh Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. At only 10 ft deep, Wagosh Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. At 42 acres, Wagosh Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Within St. Louis County's 187 graded lakes, Wagosh Lake ranks 122 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

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. No formal public access is documented at Wagosh Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.