Round Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Round Lake at a C: clarity at 7.4 ft, 28 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 52 signal an intermediate trophic state. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

At a TSI of 52, Round Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake bottoms out at 37 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. The lake is compact at 31 acres, with 0.8 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Round Lake ranks 13 of 95 in Hennepin County, putting it in the upper tier of locally monitored lakes.

Round Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 8, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The grade is supported by multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies, giving the letter a reasonably stable foundation.