Long Lost Lake 15-0068-00 Lake Water Quality

Long Lost Lake is located 23 miles northwest of Park Rapids, MN. It has a unique shape and is approximately 501 acres in size (Table 1). The exact acreage of this lake fluctuates, based on lake level. According to the MN DNR Fisheries report, since the early 1990s the lake has risen twelve feet which increased its size by approximately 100 acres. Long Lost Lake has no inlets or outlets, which classifies it as a groundwater seepage lake. It is common to see large fluctuations in lake levels in groundwater seepage lakes. The recent increase in lake levels flooded out numerous cabins and created large amounts of standing dead timber, submerged in water. Water quality data have been collected on Long Lost Lake since 1986. These data show that the lake is oligotrophic (TSI=38), which is characteristic of clear water throughout the summer and sustainable trout fisheries in deeper lakes (page 9). The Long Lost Lake Area Association first organized in 1980 to afford members the maximum enjoyment and benefits of the lake, to provide and improve facilities for recreation, and to help preserve the lake for the enjoyment of their children and future generations.