Bingham Lake
Cottonwood County, Minnesota270 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Bingham Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- 10 ft max depth
- Public access
Bingham Lake in Cottonwood County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 46.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 269.75 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 6, 2022 caught 6.33 walleye per gill net at Bingham Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 14–22 inches. DNR survey details →
Bingham Lake is a 270-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cottonwood County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 10 feet (8-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Cottonwood County, Bingham Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-26. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Bingham Lake covers about 270 acres in Cottonwood County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Bingham Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Bingham Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing8 species recorded
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. Bingham Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Bingham 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 Bingham Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Bingham 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 4 ft. Phosphorus 46.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.6 µg/L. TSI 55.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 46.5µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 5.6µg/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. | 55 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Bingham Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Bingham Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Jun (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (69°F) to its warmest (77°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 33 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bingham Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Bingham Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (35,975 cells/mL) on November 29, 2024.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 6, 2022 caught 6.33 walleye per gill net at Bingham Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 14–22 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bingham 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
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-09-16 (Targeted Survey).
13 surveys on file · most recent 2022-09-16 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 550.74 | ||
| Black Bullhead | 132.94 | 4–11 in 2022-06-06 | 0.29 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 15.47 | 5–11 in 2022-06-06 | 0.31 lb |
| Walleye | 8.11 | 14–22 in 2022-09-16 | 1.65 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 Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Walleye
From the 2022-09-16 survey
Bingham Lake is a 269-acre lake, located in Cottonwood County. Since 2018, Bingham Lake has been included in a research project that is evaluating the performance of two strains of Walleye, the Lower Mississippi Strain (LMS) and the Mississippi Strain (MIS). However, during 2020, no stocking was done as no Walleye…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bingham Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BinghamFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BinghamFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BinghamPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
10 ft
Average depth
8 ft
Surface area
270 acres
Shoreline
3.2 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
6 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,371 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bingham LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Bingham Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bingham Lake in Cottonwood 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 Bingham 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 →
Follow Bingham Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bingham Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-40.5 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-23.7 µg/L/yr2 years
EPA Impairment Status
Bingham 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, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN17-0007-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Bingham Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Poet Biorefining - Bingham LakeBingham Lake · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MN0063118Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Cottonwood County
Frequently asked questions about Bingham Lake
Where is Bingham Lake?
- Bingham Lake is a lake in Cottonwood County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Bingham Lake?
- Bingham Lake in Cottonwood County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 46.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 269.75 acres.
Is Bingham Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Bingham Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Bingham Lake?
- Bingham Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September, from 33 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bingham Lake?
- Bingham Lake has a maximum depth of 10 feet and an average depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 269.75 acres.
What fish are in Bingham Lake?
- Fish species found in Bingham Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Bingham Lake is located in Cottonwood County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Bingham Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 6, 2022 caught 6.33 walleye per gill net at Bingham Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 14–22 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bingham 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.
Does Bingham Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Bingham Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (35,975 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Bingham Lake?
- Bingham Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bingham Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Bingham Lake?
- Bingham 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 Bingham 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 Cottonwood County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Bingham Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
150 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA150 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory