Round Lake vs Waukenabo Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Round Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Waukenabo Lake (C, Fair). Both are in Aitkin County, Minnesota.
Both Round Lake and Waukenabo Lake sit in Minnesota. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any grade differences here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies grading them. Round Lake (A) is materially cleaner than Waukenabo Lake (C). A gap that wide is unlikely to close in a single year of remediation work; it reflects multi-decade differences in the lakes themselves.
For a recreational visitor, the wider grade gap is decisive — Round Lake is the better water-quality choice. For a researcher, the gap is the interesting part: what is different about the two watersheds, and which of those differences is mutable?
Round Lake
Crystal clear, you can see 15.3 ft down.
Waukenabo Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Round Lake | Waukenabo Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | C (Fair) |
| Water Clarity | 15.3 ft | 8 ft |
| Phosphorus | No data | No data |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 59 ft | 38 ft |
| Surface Area | 634.03 acres | 667.7 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 1 | 1 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | mesotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Round Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Waukenabo Lake's Grade C. Water clarity: 15.3 ft vs 8 ft. For fishing diversity, Round Lake also leads with 1 species.