Reno Lake
Reno Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 3808.59 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 23 ft
- Area
- 3,809 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 11
- Open water
- 234 days
Next lake in Pope County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Reno Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 20 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Reno Lake is a 3,809-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Pope County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 23 feet (17-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 19 other monitored lakes in Pope County, Reno Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 33.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 33.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.6 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Reno Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Reno Lake in Pope 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 Reno Lake
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Water Temperature
Reno Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Reno Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft |
| Average Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 3,809 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 11.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 53% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Reno 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
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-08 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 80.49 | — |
| Spottail Shiner | 59.84 | — |
| MMS | 35.04 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 33.97 | 0.14 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 13.57 | 1.57 lb |
| SUN | 12.46 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-07-08 survey
A targeted gill net survey was conducted during summer 2024 to assess the Walleye population. Data from this survey will contribute to a statewide study examining the impacts of zebra mussels on Walleye populations. Gill net catches averaged 18.4 fish/net, a substantial increase from the record-low level documented in…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Reno Lake. 5 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RenoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Reno (0771)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Reno (0940)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — RenoFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — RenoPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.167 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.56 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.45 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (18 observations).
Estimated open water season: 234 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-13 (2024) | 2023-05-02 (2023) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-12 (2019) | 2016-12-08 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-04-06
EPA Impairment Status
Reno Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN61-0078-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 20 lakes in Pope County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Reno Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Pope County
Frequently asked questions about Reno Lake
What is the water quality grade for Reno Lake?
- Reno Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 3808.59 acres.
Is Reno Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Reno Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Reno Lake?
- Reno Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 25 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Reno Lake?
- Reno Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet and an average depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 3808.59 acres.
What fish are in Reno Lake?
- Fish species found in Reno Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Reno Lake is located in Pope County, Minnesota.
When does Reno Lake thaw?
- Reno Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 11. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 234 days.
Explore Reno Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Pope County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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State Parks Near Reno Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
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Compare Reno Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
89 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
MNPCA89 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate