Big Basswood Lake
Big Basswood Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.1 ft
- Mean depth
- ~11 ft est.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Becker County
Big Basswood Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 11 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Big Basswood Lake ranks #40 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Big Basswood Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Big Basswood Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Basswood 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Big Basswood Lake
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~11 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Big Basswood Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Sockeye LakePublic
Fishing Big Basswood Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Big Basswood Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Big Basswood (1236)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Big BasswoodPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #40 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Big Basswood Lake
What is the water quality grade for Big Basswood Lake?
- Big Basswood Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L.
Is Big Basswood Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Big Basswood Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Big Basswood Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Big Basswood Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 11 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Big Basswood Lake?
- Big Basswood Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sockeye Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Big Basswood Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Detroit Lakes Area area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Big Basswood Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2020
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory