Osakis Lake vs Smith Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Osakis Lake has a higher water quality grade (D, Poor) than Smith Lake (F, Very Poor). Both are in Minnesota.
Osakis Lake and Smith 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 are within a letter of each other on the rubric — Osakis Lake (D) versus Smith Lake (F). 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.
Osakis Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft.
Smith Lake
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Osakis Lake | Smith Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | D (Poor) | F (Very Poor) |
| Water Clarity | 10.5 ft | 3.6 ft |
| Phosphorus | 75 µg/L | 58 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.6 µg/L | 36 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 73 ft | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 6,389 acres | 666 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 18 | 15 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | eutrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Osakis Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade D versus Smith Lake's Grade F. Water clarity: 10.5 ft vs 3.6 ft. For fishing diversity, Osakis Lake also leads with 18 species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.