Round Lake

Round Lake earns a D — measurements through 2023 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. A maximum depth of just 9 ft means sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the water column whenever wind stirs the bottom — a classic shallow-lake dynamic. Round Lake covers 930 acres alongside 5.0 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Within Jackson County's 7 graded lakes, Round Lake ranks 4 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

An invasive species record — bighead carp — has been logged at Round Lake; Minnesota PCA maintains the official infested-waters list. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 17 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. A documented public access point at Round Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.