Effects of Rainbow Trout Stocking Moratorium on the Zooplankton Community and Water Quality of Square Lake

Square Lake (Washington County, MN) is ranked in the top 1% for water clarity in the North Central Hardwood Forest ecoregion of Minnesota and is considered "a Priority Lake" by the Metropolitan Council for "its high regional recreational value and its good water quality". Recreational activities that Square Lake provides include swimming (public beach at the east end of the lake), fishing, canoeing, and scuba diving. Although Square Lake has very clear water compared to other lakes in the region, its clarity has declined significantly since the 1970s.