Pope County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 25 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
There are 25 graded lakes in Pope County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. The county average is C — the middle of the rubric, with one or two lakes pulling the average up or down depending on year.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Linka Lake (A); the most-stressed is Unnamed Lake (F).
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.
DNR Reports (57)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Pope County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →
- —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
All Lakes in Pope County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linka Lake | A | 10.2 ft | 50 ft | 19 µg/L |
| 2 | Signalness Lake | A | 10.7 ft | 14 ft | 17 µg/L |
| 3 | Minnewaska Lake | B | 11.2 ft | 32 ft | 23.5 µg/L |
| 4 | Amelia Lake | B | 9.2 ft | 69 ft | 17.5 µg/L |
| 5 | Scandinavian Lake | B | 7.7 ft | 49 ft | 18.5 µg/L |
| 6 | Scandinavian Lake | B | 7.9 ft | - | 17 µg/L |
| 7 | Grove Lake | C | 5.1 ft | 31 ft | 25 µg/L |
| 8 | Nelson Lake | C | 6.5 ft | - | 23.5 µg/L |
| 9 | Reno Lake | C | 6.9 ft | 23 ft | 33 µg/L |
| 10 | Pelican Lake | C | 5 ft | 34 ft | 49 µg/L |
| 11 | Johanna Lake | C | 4.9 ft | 10 ft | 35.5 µg/L |
| 12 | Villard Lake | C | 4.5 ft | 16 ft | 33 µg/L |
| 13 | Leven Lake | C | 4.9 ft | 33 ft | 31 µg/L |
| 14 | Westport Lake | C | 4.6 ft | 12 ft | 52 µg/L |
| 15 | Unnamed Lake | D | 3.6 ft | - | - |
| 16 | Ann Lake | D | 8.4 ft | 14 ft | 496.5 µg/L |
| 17 | Marlu Lake | D | 3.5 ft | - | - |
| 18 | Gilchrist Lake | D | 3.6 ft | 24 ft | 62.5 µg/L |
| 19 | Hoff Lake | D | 6 ft | - | - |
| 20 | Goose Lake | D | 6.1 ft | 17 ft | 180 µg/L |
| 21 | Strandness Lake | D | 3 ft | 5 ft | 72.5 µg/L |
| 22 | Unnamed Lake | F | 3 ft | - | - |
| 23 | Emily Lake | F | 2 ft | 6 ft | 90 µg/L |
| 24 | Malmedal Lake | F | 1 ft | 10 ft | 223 µg/L |
| 25 | Simon Lake | F | 1.3 ft | - | 117.5 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.