Bass Lake is nutrient rich which is a large factor in the degrading water quality seen in late summer.  Bass Lake has a very small watershed of less than 1,000 acres. There are 3 active running ag tiles entering Bass Lake along with a tile from the Smith Wildlife Area.   In the summer of 2019 water samples were collected from these sites along with the water exiting the Bass Lake culvert.  The samples were tested by UC Labs in Janesville, MN for phosphate and nitrate levels in the water.  While the phosphate levels were low, the nitrate levels coming from the north side of the lake show that the lake is absorbing the nitrates as seen from the test of the water exiting Bass Lake.

We need to work with landowners and create retention ponds on ag land to hold water and eliminate polluted water flow into Bass Lake.