Is Upper Red Lake Safe for Swimming?
Upper Red Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has nutrient and algae measurements on record from state and federal monitoring. A water-quality reading is not a swimming clearance. The state water agency and county health departments post current advisories; check them before you swim.. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 41 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft |
| Phosphorus | 41 μg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.2 μg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Location | Beltrami County, Minnesota |
How does Upper Red Lake compare?
On nutrient and algae readings, Upper Red Lake runs above the Minnesota state average. It ranks #85 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County on nutrient and algae readings.
Water clarity (Secchi depth) sits at 2 feet. That signals heavy algae or sediment, often tied to high phosphorus from runoff. Algae levels (chlorophyll-a) measure 13.2 µg/L — moderate; acceptable for swimming on most days, but worth checking advisories.
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