Ml-Vineland Lake vs Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Ml-Vineland Lake and Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River both received the same overall water quality grade of A (Excellent). Both are in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota.
Ml-Vineland Lake and Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River 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. These two are within a letter of each other on the rubric — Ml-Vineland Lake (A) versus Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River (A). The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
With grades 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.
Ml-Vineland Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.8 ft.
Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River
No clarity data.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Ml-Vineland Lake | Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | A (Excellent) |
| Water Clarity | 7.8 ft | No data |
| Phosphorus | 24 µg/L | 21.8 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.1 µg/L | 0.6 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 128,250 acres | 1,044 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 21 | 0 |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | oligotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Both lakes earn the same Grade A. The tiebreakers come down to what you want from the lake. Ml-Vineland Lake supports more documented fish species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.