Round Lake
Becker County, Minnesota1,094 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Round Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 69 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Round Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 69 ft. Surface area: 1094.18 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 14, 2025 caught 8.00 walleye per gill net at Round Lake. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Round Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 60 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Round Lake is a 1,094-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 69 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Round Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Round Lake covers about 1,100 acres in Becker County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 20, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Round Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Round Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing18 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 20
- Deep water69 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,094 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Round Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Round Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Round Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.3 µg/L. TSI 44.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 16µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 44 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Round Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Round Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 66°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (55°F) to its warmest (66°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 461 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Round Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Round Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was low (9,036 cells/mL) on October 11, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 14, 2025 caught 8.00 walleye per gill net at Round Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Round Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-14 (Standard Survey).
14 surveys on file · most recent 2025-07-14 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 37.82 | 5–11 in 2025-07-14 | 0.16 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 37.21 |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-07-14 survey
Round Lake is a 1,094-acre, class-27 lake located in northeastern Becker County within the White Earth Indian Reservation. A portion of the southwest shore is located in the Tamarack National Wildlife Refuge. The lake's shoreline is moderately developed with approximately 92 homes and one resort. Round Lake is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Round Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RoundFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Round (1208)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — RoundFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — RoundPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
69 ft
Surface area
1,094 acres
Shoreline
5.6 mi
Littoral zone
43%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
97 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,486 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Round LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Round Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Round Lake in Becker County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Round Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow Round Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Round Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2021–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening5 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 20
Earliest Apr 10, 1998 · Latest May 6, 2008
Typical ice-in
Nov 26
Earliest Nov 15, 2017 · Latest Dec 20, 2001
Most recent ice-out
Apr 20
2025
29 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Round Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Round Lake (completed 1938), built primarily for recreation on the Otter Tail River; rockfill-type dam, 14 ft tall and 60 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,100 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 7,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 78 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00022 · Operator website
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Round Lake
Where is Round Lake?
- Round Lake is a lake in Becker County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Round Lake?
- Round Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 69 ft. Surface area: 1094.18 acres.
Is Round Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Round Lake?
- Round Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September, from 461 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Round Lake?
- Round Lake has a maximum depth of 69 feet. The lake covers 1094.18 acres.
What fish are in Round Lake?
- Fish species found in Round Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Round Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Round Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 14, 2025 caught 8.00 walleye per gill net at Round Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Round Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Round Lake thaw?
- Round Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 220 days.
Does Round Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Round Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was low (9,036 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Round Lake?
- Round Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Round Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Round Lake?
- Round Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Round Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
144 measurements from 9 monitoring stations, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA96 samples · 2021–2025 - Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX48 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (9)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate