Reno Lake

Reno Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. With clarity and phosphorus scored, the sub-grades cluster within a letter of each other, pointing to stable conditions rather than one specific stressor.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. A maximum depth of 23 ft puts Reno Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. With 3,809 acres of surface and 11.6 miles of shoreline, Reno Lake is a large water by Minnesota standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Among the 25 graded lakes in Pope County, Reno Lake sits at rank 9, above the county median.

Reno Lake is on the Minnesota infested-waters list for zebra mussels — boaters should follow clean-drain-dry protocols when moving gear to or from the lake. Walleye are documented at Reno Lake, one of 18 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Reno Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 14 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 11. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.