Belle Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Belle Lake at a C: clarity at 3.9 ft, 42 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 58 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.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. The lake bottoms out at 25 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 864 acres, Belle Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 5.5 miles of shoreline. Belle Lake ranks 9 of 23 in Meeker County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Belle Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. Walleye are documented at Belle Lake, one of 16 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Belle Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 10 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 7. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.