Calhoun Lake vs Mud Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Calhoun Lake has a higher water quality grade (B, Good) than Mud Lake (D, Poor). Both are in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
Both Calhoun Lake and Mud Lake sit in Minnesota. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any grade differences here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies grading them. Calhoun Lake (B) is materially cleaner than Mud Lake (D). 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 — Calhoun 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 7.3 ft.
Mud Lake
Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Calhoun Lake | Mud Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | B (Good) | D (Poor) |
| Water Clarity | 7.3 ft | 6.2 ft |
| Phosphorus | 23.5 µg/L | No data |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 13 ft | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 647.12 acres | 2.3K acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 1 | 1 |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | eutrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Calhoun Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade B versus Mud Lake's Grade D. Water clarity: 7.3 ft vs 6.2 ft. For fishing diversity, Calhoun Lake also leads with 1 species.