Wilmes Lake

Wilmes Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Minnesota average. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

At a TSI of 63, Wilmes Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Wilmes Lake ranks 76 of 83 in Washington County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Wilmes Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Wilmes Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Wilmes Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is supported by multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies, giving the letter a reasonably stable foundation.