Beebe Lake
Wright County, MinnesotaEutrophic
The LakeGrade rubric puts Beebe Lake at a C: clarity at 4.6 ft, 36 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 55 signal an intermediate trophic state. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.
At a TSI of 55, Beebe Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake bottoms out at 27 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. Beebe Lake covers 323 acres alongside 4.4 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Among the 64 graded lakes in Wright County, Beebe Lake sits at rank 32, above the county median.
Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Beebe Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. Walleye are documented at Beebe Lake, one of 12 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Beebe Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a long ice-out record — 32 observations on file, with a median ice-out around Apr 6. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 4.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 35.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 35.5 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 27 ft |
| Average Depth | 13.9 ft |
| Surface Area | 322.88 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 42% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Beebe Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Beebe Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Beebe Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Invasive Species
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.055 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.5 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (65 observations).
Estimated open water season: 239 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 1988-03-05 (1988) | 2009-04-27 (2009) |
| Ice-In | 1984-11-01 (1984) | 2008-12-26 (2008) |
Most recent ice-out: 2019-04-16
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #32 of 64 lakes in Wright County
Nearby Lakes in Wright County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Beebe Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-01 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 35.84 | 0.28 lb |
| Bluegill | 35.66 | 0.16 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 27.20 | 0.68 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 23.79 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 17.19 | 0.13 lb |
| SFS | 14.34 | — |
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.
Black Crappie
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-08-01 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Beebe Lake, was conducted on August 1st-Month day, year, by Area Fisheries staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Beebe Lake. 3 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BeebeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BeebeFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BeebePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-10-02
Monitoring stations: 1