Over the summer I have touched on the concept of shallow lakes in other columns, but this week I will focus on them. Shallow lakes behave differently and have different dynamics than deep lakes. Before we go any further, let’s define “shallow”. Shallow lakes are lakes where the sunlight can reach the bottom. Generally, this corresponds to 10-15 feet deep or less. Since the sunlight can reach the bottom, plants are able to grow there.

There are over 5,000 shallow lakes in Minnesota that are over 50 acres in size. These lakes are a very valuable habitat for wildlife, and are also very vulnerable to human impact. [Read more…]