Round Lake

Round Lake sits at the top of the Minnesota PCA grading rubric with an A, a mark reached by the cleanest lakes in Minnesota. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

A TSI near 44 places Round Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. The lake's 69 ft maximum depth is in the upper tier for Minnesota — deep enough for cold-water fish to find refuge in summer. At 1,094 acres, Round Lake is one of the larger lakes in Becker County, with 5.6 miles of shoreline supporting multiple distinct use patterns. Among the 93 graded lakes in Becker County, Round Lake ranks 16 — in the top quartile locally.

No invasive species are currently listed at Round Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Round Lake's fishery is anchored by muskellunge, with 18 documented species in total — a destination water for muskie anglers. A documented public access point at Round Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 15 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 20. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.