Betty Lake
Betty Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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.
- Clarity
- 5.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 154 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 8
- Open water
- 234 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Betty Lake →
Next lake in Meeker County
Betty Lake is a 154-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 5.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 108 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 26.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 108 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 26.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Betty Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Betty Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Betty Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 154 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 58% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- 732 nd Avenue BridgePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Betty Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-01 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 22.13 | 0.3 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 16.64 | 0.54 lb |
| Bluegill | 10.21 | 0.21 lb |
| CNM | 9.20 | — |
| Channel Catfish | 4.72 | 2.46 lb |
| White Sucker | 3.85 | 2.05 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 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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.03 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +9.5 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -7.78 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (44 observations).
Estimated open water season: 234 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-09 (2000) | 2002-05-15 (2002) |
| Ice-In | 1998-11-13 (1998) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2018-05-01
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN47-0042-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 19 lakes in Meeker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Betty Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Betty Lake
What is the water quality grade for Betty Lake?
- Betty Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Betty Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 26.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Betty Lake?
- Betty Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Betty Lake across LakeGrade
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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)
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