Waseca County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 6 lakes, average grade F (Very Poor)
Waseca County has 6 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. The county average is F — the most-stressed bracket in our rubric. Most monitored lakes here show persistent nutrient loading and algal pressure.
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 Reeds Lake (D); the most-stressed is Clear Lake (F).
Quick Answers for Waseca County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Reeds Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
DNR Reports (14)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Waseca County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — St. OlafFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ReedsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LoonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ClearFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ClearFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ClearPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ElysianPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LoonFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LoonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ReedsFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ReedsPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — St. OlafFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Waseca County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reeds Lake | D | 6 ft | 58 ft | - |
| 2 | St. Olaf Lake | D | 5 ft | 33 ft | - |
| 3 | Clear Lake | F | 2.5 ft | 34 ft | 151 µg/L |
| 4 | Loon Lake | F | 2 ft | 9 ft | 121.5 µg/L |
| 5 | Elysian (Upper Lake | F | 2 ft | - | - |
| 6 | Watkins Lake | F | 3.2 ft | - | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.