Ward Lake

Ward Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Minnesota norms.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. At only 13 ft deep, Ward Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. At 39 acres, Ward Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Ward Lake sits at rank 70 of 128 in Cook County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Ward Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2021, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. 2 fish species are documented at Ward Lake, a mixed warm-water community typical for Minnesota lakes of this size. A documented public access point at Ward Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.