Benedict Lake
Hubbard County, Minnesota464 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Benedict Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 91 ft max depth
- Public access
Benedict Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 10, 2021 caught 5.51 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Benedict Lake. DNR survey details →
Benedict Lake is a 464-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 91 feet (41-foot average). 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. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Benedict Lake covers about 460 acres in Hubbard County. The median ice-out date is May 3, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Benedict Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Benedict Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.5 ft of visibility
- Fishing16 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around May 3
- Deep water91 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Benedict Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Benedict Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Benedict Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Benedict Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus 8.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.4 µg/L. TSI 39.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 11.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 8.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.4µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 39 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Benedict Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Benedict Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (58°F) to its warmest (77°F).
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 ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 10, 2021 caught 5.51 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Benedict Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Benedict Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-08-10 (Targeted Survey).
10 surveys on file · most recent 2021-08-10 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 37.25 | ||
| Bluegill | 15.79 | 2–9 in 2021-06-07 | 0.25 lb |
| Rock Bass | 8.33 | 3–10 in 2021-06-07 | 0.32 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 7.81 | 8–14 in 2021-06-07 | 0.41 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
91 ft
Average depth
41 ft
Surface area
464 acres
Shoreline
3.8 mi
Littoral zone
37%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
18 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,283 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Benedict Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.5 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Stable0 µg/L/yr2 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
May 3
Earliest Apr 3, 2017 · Latest May 10, 2008
Typical ice-in
Dec 7
Earliest Nov 29, 2007 · Latest Dec 20, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Apr 22
2025
13 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN29-0048-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Benedict Lake
Where is Benedict Lake?
- Benedict Lake is a lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Benedict Lake?
- Benedict Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Benedict Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Benedict Lake?
- Benedict Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Benedict Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 10, 2021 caught 5.51 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Benedict Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Benedict Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Benedict Lake?
- Public access to Benedict Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Benedict Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Hubbard County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near Benedict Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Benedict Lake With Nearby Lakes
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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate