Becker Lake

Becker Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Minnesota average.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. At 120 ft of maximum depth, Becker Lake stratifies reliably through the summer — the hypolimnion stays cooler and clearer than the surface layer suggests. With 1,989 acres of surface and 13.7 miles of shoreline, Becker Lake is a large water by Minnesota standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Within the 93 graded lakes of Becker County, Becker Lake sits at rank 88, near the bottom of the county list.

Zebra mussel presence at Becker Lake means the lake's clarity numbers carry an asterisk — filtered water is not the same as nutrient-poor water. Walleye are documented at Becker Lake, one of 17 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Becker Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Ice-out has been recorded 16 times at Becker Lake, with a median around Apr 21. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.