Carlos Lake vs Irene Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Carlos Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Irene Lake. Both are in Douglas County, Minnesota.
Both Carlos Lake and Irene Lake sit in Minnesota. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any differences in the readings here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies sampling them. These two sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, Carlos Lake versus Irene Lake. The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
With readings this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.
Carlos Lake
Crystal clear, you can see 18 ft down.
Irene Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Carlos Lake | Irene Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 18 ft Better | 9.8 ft |
| Phosphorus | 13.5 µg/L Better | 24 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.1 µg/L Better | 7.4 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 163 ft Better | 44 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,605 acres | 639 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 21 Better | 16 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | mesotrophic |
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.
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Verdict
Carlos Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Irene Lake. Water clarity: 18 ft vs 9.8 ft. For fishing diversity, Carlos Lake also leads with 21 species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Carlos Lake and Irene Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Carlos Lake and Irene Lake. Both lakes are pinned on the map, so you can see which stays sit nearer the one you pick. Switch to Satellite to see how close each is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Carlos Lake and Irene Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.