Calhoun Lake vs Florida Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Florida Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Calhoun Lake (C, Fair). Both are in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
Calhoun Lake and Florida 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. Florida Lake (A) is materially cleaner than Calhoun Lake (C). A gap that wide is unlikely to close in a single year of remediation work; it reflects multi-decade differences in the lakes themselves.
For a recreational visitor, the wider grade gap is decisive — Florida Lake is the better water-quality choice. For a researcher, the gap is the interesting part: what is different about the two watersheds, and which of those differences is mutable?
Calhoun Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft.
Florida Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 12.3 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Calhoun Lake | Florida Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | C (Fair) | A (Excellent) |
| Water Clarity | 6.9 ft | 12.3 ft |
| Phosphorus | 24 µg/L | 20 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.8 µg/L | 3.8 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 13 ft | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 647 acres | 705 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 15 | 18 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | mesotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Florida Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Calhoun Lake's Grade C. Water clarity: 12.3 ft vs 6.9 ft. For fishing diversity, Florida Lake also leads with 18 species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.