Richardson Lake

Richardson Lake earns a D — measurements through 2024 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. A maximum depth of 47 ft puts Richardson Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. Richardson Lake covers 119 acres alongside 1.8 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Richardson Lake sits at rank 13 of 23 in Meeker County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Richardson Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 10 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. Ice-out has been logged at Richardson Lake more than two dozen times, putting the median around Apr 4 — a useful baseline for tracking climate trends. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.