Minnewaska Lake vs Villard Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Minnewaska Lake has a higher water quality grade (B, Good) than Villard Lake (C, Fair). Both are in Pope County, Minnesota.
B
Minnewaska Lake
Pope County, Minnesota
Good clarity, visible to about 11.2 ft.
C
Villard Lake
Pope County, Minnesota
Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Minnewaska Lake | Villard Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | B (Good) | C (Fair) |
| Water Clarity | 11.2 ft | 4.5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 23.5 µg/L | 33 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 8.1K acres | 544.39 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 21 | 14 |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | eutrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Minnewaska Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade B versus Villard Lake's Grade C. Water clarity: 11.2 ft vs 4.5 ft. For fishing diversity, Minnewaska Lake also leads with 21 species.