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.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Waukenabo Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. Waukenabo Lake reaches 38 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 668 acres, Waukenabo Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 5.0 miles of shoreline. Within Aitkin County's 53 graded lakes, Waukenabo Lake ranks 31 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

No invasive species are currently listed at Waukenabo Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 14 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. Ice-out has been recorded 23 times at Waukenabo Lake, with a median around Apr 19. 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.