Round Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Round Lake pulls an A: clarity at 15.3 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Minnesota.

A TSI value of 38 puts Round Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. Round Lake is unusually deep for Minnesota at 59 ft, which buffers the lake against summer warming and helps the deep water stay oxygenated. Round Lake covers 634 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 ranks 1 — in the top quartile locally.

No invasive species are currently listed at Round Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 15 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 — 17 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 19. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.