Belle Lake
Belle Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 863.92 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 864 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 7
- Open water
- 251 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Belle Lake →
Next lake in Meeker County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Belle Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 20 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Belle Lake is a 864-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet (16-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Meeker County, Belle Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Belle Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 40.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 18.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 40.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Belle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Belle Lake in Meeker 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Belle Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Belle Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Belle Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 321 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Belle Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Average Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 864 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 44% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Belle Lake (East)Public
- Belle Lake (South)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Belle Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
33 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-22 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Spottail Shiner | 110.22 | 0.01 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 43.65 | 0.43 lb |
| Walleye | 34.23 | 1.67 lb |
| Black Crappie | 13.19 | 0.2 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.51 | 0.14 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 7.79 | 0.11 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.
Spottail Shiner
Black Bullhead
Walleye
Black Crappie
From the 2025-09-22 survey
A targeted survey (fall nighttime electrofishing) was conducted on Belle Lake on September 22nd, 2025, to evaluate young of the year (YOY) and yearling Walleye abundance. A total of 27 YOY were sampled for a catch rate of 27.0 fish/hr., which was below the lake's historical (1993 to 2025) median (52.2 fish/hr.). This…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Belle Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Belle LakeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Belle LakeFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Belle LakePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.006 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.47 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.9 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (14 observations).
Estimated open water season: 251 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2021-03-27 (2021) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2007-11-28 (2007) | 2022-12-23 (2022) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-31
EPA Impairment Status
Belle 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 MN47-0049-01 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 19 lakes in Meeker County
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Belle Lake
What is the water quality grade for Belle Lake?
- Belle Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 863.92 acres.
Is Belle Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Belle Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 18.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Belle Lake?
- Belle Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 321 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Belle Lake?
- Belle Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet and an average depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 863.92 acres.
What fish are in Belle Lake?
- Fish species found in Belle Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Belle Lake is located in Meeker County, Minnesota.
When does Belle Lake thaw?
- Belle Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Dec 14. The open water season is approximately 251 days.
Are there boat ramps on Belle Lake?
- Belle Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Belle Lake (East), Belle Lake (South). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Belle 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 Meeker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Belle Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Belle Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
94 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA94 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 (2)
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