Beseau Lake
Beseau Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 225.12 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 27 ft
- Area
- 225 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Becker County
Beseau Lake is a 225-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Beseau Lake ranks #64 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 10.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.2 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Beseau Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Beseau Lake in Becker 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
Beseau Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Beseau Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 27 ft |
| Surface Area | 225 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 53% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Beseau Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-05-08 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 33.02 | 0.36 lb |
| Bluegill | 25.85 | 0.2 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.65 | 1.11 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 9.06 | 0.52 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.17 | 0.19 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 5.43 | 0.19 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.
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Brown Bullhead
From the 2023-05-08 survey
Bijou (Beseau) Lake is a 210-acre lake located in western Becker County. The agricultural watershed, marginal water quality, and continuing shoreline development make it susceptible to winterkill. Bijou Lake has experienced a light winterkill in 2004, a moderate winterkill in 2001, and a severe winterkill in 1994.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Beseau Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BijouFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BijouFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BijouPublic 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 | +0.347 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.34 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.02 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #64 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Beseau Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Beseau Lake
What is the water quality grade for Beseau Lake?
- Beseau Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 225.12 acres.
Is Beseau Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Beseau Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 10.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Beseau Lake?
- Beseau Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 28 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Beseau Lake?
- Beseau Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake covers 225.12 acres.
What fish are in Beseau Lake?
- Fish species found in Beseau Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Beseau Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
Explore Beseau Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
89 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA89 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 (1)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder