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Round Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Ocheda Lake. Both are in Minnesota.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

Ocheda Lake and Round 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. These two sit close on the readings, Ocheda Lake versus Round 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.

Ocheda Lake

Nobles County, Minnesota

Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility.

Round Lake

Jackson County, Minnesota

Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility.

Side-by-Side Metrics

MetricOcheda LakeRound Lake
Water Clarity1.6 ft2 ft Better
Phosphorus265 µg/L77 µg/L Better
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)72.8 µg/L14.7 µg/L Better
Maximum Depth5 ft9 ft Better
Surface Area1,691 acres930 acres
Public AccessYesYes
Fish Species1017 Better
Trophic Statehypereutrophiceutrophic

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.

Verdict

Round Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Ocheda Lake. Water clarity: 2 ft vs 1.6 ft. For fishing diversity, Round Lake also leads with 17 species.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.