Reeds Lake
Reeds Lake in Waseca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 194.54 acres.
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Typical in August
- 65°F
- Max depth
- 58 ft
- Area
- 195 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 4
- Open water
- 244 days
Next lake in Waseca County
Why Reeds Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Reeds Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Reeds Lake is a 195-acre lake in Waseca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 58 feet. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Reeds Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Reeds Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Reeds Lake in Waseca County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Reeds Lake
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Water Temperature
Reeds Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 63°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 68°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 69 field readings (2018–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Reeds Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 58 ft |
| Surface Area | 195 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 57% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Reeds LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Reeds Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-13 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 82.61 | — |
| Bluegill | 65.96 | 0.11 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.15 | 1.01 lb |
| Northern Pike | 7.16 | 2.39 lb |
| BKF | 6.72 | — |
| IOD | 6.35 | — |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
BKF
From the 2022-06-13 survey
Reeds Lake is a 193-acre lake located in Waseca County 2 miles east of the city of Elysian. Reeds Lake has a maximum depth of 58 feet. A county-maintained public access is located on the southwest side of the lake. Reeds Lake has a small watershed with minimal agricultural run-off and is one of the clearest lakes in…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Reeds Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ReedsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ReedsFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ReedsPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.035 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (18 observations).
Estimated open water season: 244 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-03-21 (2015) | 1982-04-19 (1982) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-26 (2003) | 2002-12-19 (2002) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-06
EPA Impairment Status
Reeds Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN81-0055-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Reeds Lake
Reeds Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Waseca County
Frequently asked questions about Reeds Lake
What is the water quality grade for Reeds Lake?
- Reeds Lake in Waseca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 194.54 acres.
Is Reeds Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Reeds Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Reeds Lake?
- Reeds Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August, from 69 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Reeds Lake?
- Reeds Lake has a maximum depth of 58 feet. The lake covers 194.54 acres.
What fish are in Reeds Lake?
- Fish species found in Reeds Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid crappie, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Reeds Lake is located in Waseca County, Minnesota.
When does Reeds Lake thaw?
- Reeds Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 4. Ice typically forms around Dec 4. The open water season is approximately 244 days.
Are there boat ramps on Reeds Lake?
- Reeds Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Reeds Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Reeds Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
60 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA60 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate