Reno Lake
Pope County, Minnesota3,809 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Reno Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- zebra mussel
- 23 ft max depth
- Public access
Reno Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 8, 2024 caught 18.42 walleye per gill net at Reno Lake. DNR survey details →
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). 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Reno Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing18 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 11
- Big water3,809 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Reno Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Reno Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Reno Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Reno Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus 33.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 9.6 µg/L. TSI 52.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 7.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 33.5µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 9.6µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 52 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Reno Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Reno Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (57°F) to its warmest (75°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 8, 2024 caught 18.42 walleye per gill net at Reno Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Reno Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-08 (Targeted Survey).
16 surveys on file · most recent 2024-07-08 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 80.49 | ||
| Spottail Shiner | 59.84 | ||
| Yellow Perch | 33.97 | 5–8 in 2024-07-08 | 0.14 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 13.57 | 9–17 in 2024-07-08 | 1.57 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
23 ft
Average depth
17 ft
Surface area
3,809 acres
Shoreline
11.6 mi
Littoral zone
53%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
15 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,371 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+1.56 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.45 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 11
Earliest Mar 13, 2024 · Latest May 2, 2023
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 12, 2019 · Latest Dec 8, 2016
Most recent ice-out
Apr 6
2026
18 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN61-0078-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Pope County
Frequently asked questions about Reno Lake
Where is Reno Lake?
- Reno Lake is a lake in Pope County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Reno Lake?
- Reno Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Reno Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Reno Lake?
- Reno Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Reno Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 8, 2024 caught 18.42 walleye per gill net at Reno Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Reno Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Reno Lake?
- Public access to Reno Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Reno Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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