Waukenabo Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Waukenabo 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.

A TSI near 47 places Waukenabo Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. The lake bottoms out at 38 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 668 acres, Waukenabo Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 5.0 miles of shoreline. Waukenabo Lake sits at rank 31 of 53 in Aitkin County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Waukenabo Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2020, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 14 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The lake has a partial ice record — 23 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 19. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.