Betty Lake
Meeker County, Minnesota154 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Betty Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- 29 ft max depth
- Public access
Betty Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 108 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 26.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 153.66 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 1, 2022 caught 3.50 walleye per gill net at Betty Lake. DNR survey details →
Betty Lake is a 154-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Meeker County, Betty Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Betty Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing15 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 8
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Betty Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Betty 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 Betty Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Betty Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft. Phosphorus 108 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 26.5 µg/L. TSI 62.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5.6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 108µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 26.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 62 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Betty Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Betty Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 67°F) and coldest in Apr (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (54°F) to its warmest (67°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 341 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Betty Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 1, 2022 caught 3.50 walleye per gill net at Betty Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Betty 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
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-01 (Targeted Survey).
15 surveys on file · most recent 2022-08-01 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 22.13 | 4–13 in 2022-08-01 | 0.3 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 16.64 | 5–13 in 2022-08-01 | 0.54 lb |
| Bluegill | 10.21 | 4–8 in 2022-08-01 | 0.21 lb |
| Channel Catfish | 4.72 | 17–24 in 2022-08-01 | 2.46 lb |
| White Sucker | 3.85 | 6–21 in 2022-08-01 | 2.05 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.
Black Crappie
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Channel Catfish
From the 2022-08-01 survey
Betty, also known as Betsy, is a small-sized lake (154 acres) located southeast of the City of Kimball in Meeker County. A small state-owned access with a single cement boat ramp is present on the Clearwater River, about half a mile west of the lake. Betty has two miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 29 feet. The…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Betty Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BettyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BettyFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
29 ft
Surface area
154 acres
Shoreline
2.2 mi
Littoral zone
58%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
66 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,027 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- 732 nd Avenue BridgePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Betty Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Betty 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Betty Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Betty 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 Betty Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+9.5 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-7.78 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 8
Earliest Mar 9, 2000 · Latest May 15, 2002
Typical ice-in
Nov 28
Earliest Nov 13, 1998 · Latest Dec 20, 2001
Most recent ice-out
May 1
2018
44 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Betty 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: Aquatic life, Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN47-0042-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Betty Lake
Where is Betty Lake?
- Betty Lake is a lake in Meeker County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Betty Lake?
- Betty Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 108 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 26.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 153.66 acres.
Is Betty Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Betty Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Betty Lake?
- Betty Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 341 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Betty Lake?
- Betty Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 153.66 acres.
What fish are in Betty Lake?
- Fish species found in Betty Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Betty Lake is located in Meeker County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Betty Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 1, 2022 caught 3.50 walleye per gill net at Betty Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Betty 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 Betty Lake thaw?
- Betty Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 8. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 234 days.
Are there boat ramps on Betty Lake?
- Betty Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include 732 nd Avenue Bridge. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Betty Lake?
- Betty Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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 Betty Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
104 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
MNPCA104 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate