Balm Lake
Balm Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 537.37 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 33 ft
- Area
- 537 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 19
- Open water
- 217 days
Next lake in Beltrami County
Balm Lake is a 537-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 33 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Balm Lake ranks #26 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 11.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 17.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Balm Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Balm Lake in Beltrami 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.
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Water Temperature
Balm Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in May (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 53 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Balm Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 33 ft |
| Surface Area | 537 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 52% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Balm LakePublic
- Dellwater LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Balm Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-03 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 59.57 | 0.18 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 42.86 | — |
| Pumpkinseed | 21.32 | 0.2 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 20.02 | 0.15 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 16.27 | 0.83 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.22 | 0.25 lb |
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.
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
From the 2025-06-03 survey
Minnesota DNR IBI staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Balm Lake on June 3rd, 2025, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 55 survey sites evenly spaced 200 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone (the shore-water…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Balm Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BalmFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Balm (1748)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BalmFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BalmPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.1 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.58 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (16 observations).
Estimated open water season: 217 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-14 (2005) | 2008-05-03 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-07 (2019) | 2001-12-02 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2015-04-15
EPA Impairment Status
Balm Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN04-0329-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #26 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Balm Lake
What is the water quality grade for Balm Lake?
- Balm Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 537.37 acres.
Is Balm Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Balm Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Balm Lake?
- Balm Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 53 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Balm Lake?
- Balm Lake has a maximum depth of 33 feet. The lake covers 537.37 acres.
What fish are in Balm Lake?
- Fish species found in Balm Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Balm Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
When does Balm Lake thaw?
- Balm Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 19. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 217 days.
Are there boat ramps on Balm Lake?
- Balm Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Balm Lake, Dellwater Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Balm Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Beltrami County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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State Parks Near Balm Lake
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Compare Balm Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA40 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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