Round Lake

On the LakeGrade scale Round Lake grades a B, with clarity at 14.5 ft and phosphorus readings still being added placing it above the Minnesota median. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

A TSI value of 39 puts Round Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. A maximum depth of 27 ft puts Round Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. Round Lake covers 554 acres alongside 3.7 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Among the 53 graded lakes in Aitkin County, Round Lake sits at rank 14, above the county median.

Round Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2023, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 11 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The lake has a partial ice record — 16 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 15. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.