Benedict Lake
Benedict Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 91 ft. Surface area: 464.36 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 60°F
- Max depth
- 91 ft
- Area
- 464 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 3
- Open water
- 218 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
Benedict Lake is a 464-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 91 feet (41-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Benedict Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. 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: 8.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 8.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Benedict Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Benedict Lake in Hubbard 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
Benedict Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 47 field readings (2018–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Benedict Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Benedict Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (135,519 cells/mL) on April 25, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 91 ft |
| Average Depth | 41 ft |
| Surface Area | 464 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 37% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Benedict LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Benedict 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-08-10 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 37.25 | — |
| BKF | 34.21 | — |
| Bluegill | 15.79 | 0.25 lb |
| TPM | 12.86 | — |
| Rock Bass | 8.33 | 0.32 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 7.81 | 0.41 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
Rock Bass
Tullibee (Cisco)
From the 2021-08-10 survey
Benedict Lake (29-0048-00) is a 464.37-acre lake with a maximum depth of 41 feet located near Benedict, MN. Park Rapids Fisheries staff conducted a survey targeting near shore fish species on August 10, 2021, to assess populations of non-game and small sport fish. Ten 100-foot sampling sites were evenly spaced around…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Benedict Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BenedictFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BenedictFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BenedictPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.292 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (13 observations).
Estimated open water season: 218 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-04-03 (2017) | 2008-05-10 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2007-11-29 (2007) | 2015-12-20 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-22
EPA Impairment Status
Benedict Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN29-0048-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Benedict Lake
What is the water quality grade for Benedict Lake?
- Benedict Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 91 ft. Surface area: 464.36 acres.
Is Benedict Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Benedict Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Benedict Lake?
- Benedict Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August, from 47 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Benedict Lake?
- Benedict Lake has a maximum depth of 91 feet and an average depth of 41 feet. The lake covers 464.36 acres.
What fish are in Benedict Lake?
- Fish species found in Benedict Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Benedict Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
When does Benedict Lake thaw?
- Benedict Lake typically has ice-out around May 3. Ice typically forms around Dec 7. The open water season is approximately 218 days.
Does Benedict Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Benedict Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (135,519 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Benedict Lake?
- Benedict Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Benedict Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Benedict 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 Hubbard County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Where this data comes from
87 measurements from 3 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
MNPCA87 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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