Lakes with Improving Water Quality
1,234 lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin show improving water quality trends. These lakes have gotten cleaner based on multi-year monitoring of clarity, phosphorus, and algae.
| Rank | Lake | County | State | Grade | Trend | Years Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deep Portage Lake | Cass | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 2 | Lower Hay Lake | Crow Wing | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 3 | Big Sugar Bush Lake | Becker | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 4 | Birch Lake | Wright | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 5 | Round Lake | Cook | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 6 | Round Lake | Beltrami | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 6 |
| 7 | Horseshoe Lake | Cass | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 8 | Long Lake | Becker | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 9 | Maple Lake | Itasca | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 4 |
| 10 | West Twin Lake | Crow Wing | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 11 | Trout Lake | Itasca | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 12 | Trout Lake | Itasca | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 13 | Bear Lake | Lake | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 2 |
| 14 | Emerald Lake | Beltrami | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 6 |
| 15 | Blue Lake | Hubbard | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 16 | Eagle Lake | Otter Tail | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 17 | Star Lake | Crow Wing | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 18 | Star Lake | Otter Tail | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 19 | Square Lake | Washington | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 20 | Andrusia Lake | Beltrami | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 21 | Green Lake | Beltrami | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 6 |
| 22 | Little Toad Lake | Becker | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 23 | Big Mcdonald Lake | Otter Tail | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 24 | Bass Lake | Crow Wing | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 25 | Island Lake | Beltrami | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 6 |
| 26 | Portage Lake | Cass | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 4 |
| 27 | Cedar Lake | Morrison | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 28 | Big Pine Lake | Aitkin | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 29 | Turtle Lake | Becker | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 30 | Pokegama Lake | Itasca | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 4 |
| 31 | Sandy Lake | Beltrami | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 6 |
| 32 | Alexander Lake | Morrison | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 33 | Hand Lake | Cass | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 34 | Ox Yoke Lake | Cass | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 35 | Miltona Lake | Douglas | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 36 | Heart Lake | Beltrami | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 6 |
| 37 | West Battle Lake | Otter Tail | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 38 | Wabana Lake | Itasca | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 39 | Kimball Lake | Crow Wing | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 40 | Hatch Lake | Itasca | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 41 | Serpent Lake | Crow Wing | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 42 | Mary Lake | Hubbard | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 43 | Stuart Lake | Otter Tail | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 44 | North Star Lake | Itasca | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 45 | Pleasant Lake | Cass | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 46 | Little Bass Lake | Beltrami | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 47 | Pulaski Lake | Wright | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 48 | Little Mcdonald Lake | Otter Tail | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 49 | Webb Lake | Cass | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |
| 50 | Napoleon Lake | Itasca | MN | A | ↑ Improving | 5 |