In 1938, Moore Lake was surrounded by farms and forests and very few people, but runoff from agricultural fields carrying sediment and nutrients appears to have negatively impacted water quality, with excess nutrients causing algae blooms. By 1964, substantial population growth in the Twin Cities metropolitan area created demand for more homes, roads, and schools, so agricultural land was taken out of production, wetlands were filled, and forests were logged, while students lined the halls of Fridley Middle School and construction of Interstate 694 was underway. In 2012, development continued at a slower pace because vacant land had become limited, and buildings, roads, and driveways dominated the landscape, reducing natural filters such as forests and wetlands around Moore Lake and increasing stormwater runoff and local flooding.