Skip to main content
LakeQuality
A

Wood Lake

Crow Wing County, MinnesotaOligotrophic

Wood Lake sits at the top of the Minnesota PCA grading rubric with an A, a mark reached by the cleanest lakes in Minnesota. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. 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. Within Crow Wing County's 120 graded lakes, Wood Lake ranks 62 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

No invasive species are currently listed at Wood Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Wood Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Wood 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.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Good clarity, visible to about 14.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)14.4 ftB
Phosphorus10 µg/LA
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)38Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Water Quality Trend: Stable

Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.28 m/yr2
Phosphorus Declining+1 µg/L/yr2
See year-by-year chart →

Location

Loading map…

County Ranking

Ranked #62 of 120 lakes in Crow Wing County

Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County

DNR Reports & Resources

Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wood Lake. 1 report on file.

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2021-09-19

Monitoring stations: 2