Round Lake
Round Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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.
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Typical in August
- 66°F
- Max depth
- 69 ft
- Area
- 1,094 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 20
- Open water
- 220 days
Next lake in Becker County
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. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Round Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus level: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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
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 →
Water Temperature
Round Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 69 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,094 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 43% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Round LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Round Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| OTM | 110.42 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 37.82 | 0.16 lb |
| CSH | 37.49 | 0.1 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 37.21 | — |
| BKF | 33.61 | — |
| BNS | 22.06 | — |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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
CSH
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
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.408 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (29 observations).
Estimated open water season: 220 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 1998-04-10 (1998) | 2008-05-06 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-15 (2017) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-20
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
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Round Lake
What is the water quality grade for Round Lake?
- Round Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Round Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Round Lake?
- Round Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Round Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Detroit Lakes Area area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Round Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Round Lake With Nearby Lakes
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)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated 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