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Andrew Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Reno Lake. Both are in Minnesota.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

Andrew Lake and Reno Lake are both in Minnesota — a same-state head-to-head where the comparison comes down to lake-specific differences in depth, watershed, and monitoring history rather than the broader state-level water-quality regime. The readings are meaningfully apart: Andrew Lake carries clearly lower phosphorus and chlorophyll-a readings than Reno Lake. A spread that wide reflects real underlying differences, in watershed inputs, depth profiles, or monitoring rigor.

For a recreational visitor, the wider gap in the readings is decisive: Andrew Lake has the lower nutrient and algae numbers. For a researcher, the gap is the interesting part: what is different about the two watersheds, and which of those differences is mutable?

Andrew Lake

Douglas County, Minnesota

Good clarity, visible to about 13.9 ft.

Reno Lake

Pope County, Minnesota

Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft.

Side-by-Side Metrics

MetricAndrew LakeReno Lake
Water Clarity13.9 ft Better7.5 ft
Phosphorus17 µg/L Better33.5 µg/L
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)4 µg/L Better9.6 µg/L
Maximum Depth83 ft Better23 ft
Surface Area923 acres3,809 acres
Public AccessYesYes
Fish Species1818
Trophic Statemesotrophiceutrophic

A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.

Verdict

Andrew Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Reno Lake. Water clarity: 13.9 ft vs 7.5 ft. For fishing diversity, Andrew Lake also leads with 18 species.

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Where to stay near Andrew Lake and Reno Lake

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.