Bowen Lake
Bowen Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 13.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 182.17 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 182 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 15
- Open water
- 222 days
Next lake in Cass County
Bowen Lake is a 182-acre mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Bowen Lake ranks #94 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bowen Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bowen Lake in Cass 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
Bowen Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 71°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 68 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bowen Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 182 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 27% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lindsey LakePublic
- Bowen LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bowen Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-12 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 83.21 | — |
| BCS | 37.46 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 28.18 | 0.13 lb |
| BKF | 22.35 | — |
| SFS | 11.94 | — |
| GOS | 8.22 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-06-12 survey
Bowen Lake (DOW # 11-0350, Lake Class 31) is 176-acres with a maximum depth of 25 feet and 49 littoral acres (less than 15 feet deep) located one mile southeast of Backus, Minnesota. Bowen Lake is on the Pine River a state Water Trail Canoe Route. There is a Minnesota DNR-owned public access on the south shore a half…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bowen Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BowenFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bowen (1466)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BowenFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BowenPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -3.35 m/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
Estimated open water season: 222 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-17 (2024) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2022-11-20 (2022) | 2024-11-30 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-15
County Ranking
Ranked #94 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Bowen Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Bowen Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bowen Lake?
- Bowen Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 13.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 182.17 acres.
Is Bowen Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Bowen Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bowen Lake?
- Bowen Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 68 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bowen Lake?
- Bowen Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 182.17 acres.
What fish are in Bowen Lake?
- Fish species found in Bowen Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Bowen Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
When does Bowen Lake thaw?
- Bowen Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 23. The open water season is approximately 222 days.
Are there boat ramps on Bowen Lake?
- Bowen Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lindsey Lake, Bowen Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bowen Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA21 samples · 2023–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate