Pope County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 83 lakes, measured by Minnesota PCA
Pope County has 83 monitored lakes, enough that within-county variation matters as much as the county average. Some are deep glacial basins, others are shallow agricultural-watershed waters, and the measurements reflect that mix. 20 of those lakes carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. For Pope County the spread behind the average matters more than the average itself: a few nutrient-rich lakes among many clear ones produce the same figure as the inverse.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow, under 50 feet, which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Linka Lake has the lowest nutrient and algae readings in the county.
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Quick Answers for Pope County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Linka Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
Fishing in Pope County
DNR Reports (40)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Pope County. browse all reports →
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WestportFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — VillardFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StrandnessFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SignalnessFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ScandinavianFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RenoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PelicanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MinnewaskaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MalmedalFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LinkaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LevenFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — JohannaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GroveFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GooseFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GilchristFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — EmilyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — AnnFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — AmeliaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — AmeliaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — AmeliaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — AnnFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — AnnPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — EmilyFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — EmilyPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GilchristFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GilchristPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GooseFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GoosePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GroveFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GrovePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — JohannaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — JohannaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LevenPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LinkaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LinkaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MalmedalFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MalmedalPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MinnewaskaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MinnewaskaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Nelson (Main Lake)Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Pope County
83 lakes · 20 ranked on readings, 63 without enough sampling20 lakes ranked on readings · 63 without enough sampling, hidden
| # | Lake | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Max Depth | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linka LakePope | 10.2 ft | 21 µg/L | 4.2 µg/L | No recent samples | 50 ft | ✓ Public |
| 2 | Minnewaska LakePope | 11 ft | 24 µg/L | 6 µg/L | No recent samples | 32 ft | ✓ Public |
| 3 | Scandinavian LakePope | 8 ft | 20 µg/L | 6.7 µg/L | No recent samples | 49 ft | ✓ Public |
| 4 | Scandinavian LakePope | 7.9 ft | 18.5 µg/L | 6.2 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 5 | Signalness LakePope | 10.7 ft | 18 µg/L | 5 µg/L | No recent samples | 14 ft | ✓ Public |
| 6 | Johanna LakePope | 5.1 ft | 34.5 µg/L | 13.4 µg/L | No recent samples | 10 ft | ✓ Public |
| 7 | Villard LakePope | 4.6 ft | 31 µg/L | 13 µg/L | No recent samples | 16 ft | ✓ Public |
| 8 | Grove LakePope | 5.1 ft | 27 µg/L | 12.5 µg/L | No recent samples | 31 ft | ✓ Public |
| 9 | Amelia LakePope | 9.2 ft | 18 µg/L | 7.7 µg/L | No recent samples | 69 ft | ✓ Public |
| 10 | Leven LakePope | 4.9 ft | 31.5 µg/L | 11.5 µg/L | No recent samples | 33 ft | ✓ Public |
| 11 | Reno LakePope | 7.5 ft | 33.5 µg/L | 9.6 µg/L | No recent samples | 23 ft | ✓ Public |
| 12 | Pelican LakePope | 5.2 ft | 50 µg/L | 23.1 µg/L | No recent samples | 34 ft | ✓ Public |
| 13 | Emily LakePope | 2 ft | 90 µg/L | 24.5 µg/L | No recent samples | 6 ft | ✓ Public |
| 14 | Goose LakePope | 6.1 ft | 185.5 µg/L | 27.6 µg/L | No recent samples | 17 ft | ✓ Public |
| 15 | Ann LakePope | 7.2 ft | 496.5 µg/L | 17.6 µg/L | No recent samples | 14 ft | ✓ Public |
| 16 | Gilchrist LakePope | 3.9 ft | 53.5 µg/L | 27.4 µg/L | No recent samples | 24 ft | ✓ Public |
| 17 | Strandness LakePope | 3 ft | 66 µg/L | 29.4 µg/L | No recent samples | 5 ft | Carry-in |
| 18 | Westport LakePope | 4.6 ft | 53 µg/L | 21.4 µg/L | No recent samples | 12 ft | ✓ Public |
| 19 | Malmedal LakePope | 1.6 ft | 173 µg/L | 84.6 µg/L | No recent samples | 10 ft | ✓ Public |
| 20 | Simon LakePope | 1.3 ft | 109.5 µg/L | 53.4 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Carry-in |
| Unnamed LakePope | 3.6 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Unnamed LakePope | 3 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Marlu LakePope | 4 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Carry-in | |
| Hoff LakePope | 6 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Carry-in | |
| Nelson LakePope | 6.5 ft | 23 µg/L | 8 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public | |
| Otter LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Sather LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Benson LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Kolstad LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Rasmuson LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 16.4 ft | Not recorded | |
| Helle LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Lake HansonPope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 6.6 ft | Not recorded | |
| Anderson LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Lake BenPope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 12.1 ft | Not recorded | |
| Lake MaryPope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 16.4 ft | Not recorded | |
| Celia LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Edwards LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 9.8 ft | Not recorded | |
| Gundar LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Swan LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Lybeck LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| McIver LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 16.4 ft | Not recorded | |
| Belgum LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Irgens LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 6.6 ft | Not recorded | |
| Osterberg LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Christopherson LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Abrahamson LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 6.6 ft | Not recorded | |
| Rosby LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Anderson LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Pike LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 6.6 ft | Not recorded | |
| Jorgenson LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 16.4 ft | Not recorded | |
| Mitmoen LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Larson LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Erickson LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Star LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| John LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 7 ft | Not recorded | |
| Horse LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Diamond LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Lair LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Frederick LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Wollan LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 6.6 ft | Not recorded | |
| Fosse LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Lake JennumPope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Gilbertson LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Steenerson LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 16.4 ft | Not recorded | |
| Camp LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| State LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 3.3 ft | Not recorded | |
| Round LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 16.4 ft | Not recorded | |
| McCloud LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Lincoln LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Krantz LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Alice LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Eckert LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Ellen LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Burroughs LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Swan LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Tracey SloughPope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Swenoda LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 6.6 ft | Not recorded | |
| Nilson LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Johnson LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 7 ft | Not recorded | |
| Kittleson LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 16.4 ft | Not recorded | |
| Rocky Mountain LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Crook LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Round LakePope | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
NR = no nutrient or algae reading on record. The measurements are published as the authority reports them. Where the data comes from.
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Source: the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR. See data sources.