Brandy Lake
Brandy Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Mean depth
- ~7 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
Next lake in Becker County
Brandy Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 7 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Brandy Lake ranks #69 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-22. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus level: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Brandy Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Brandy 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.
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Water Temperature
Brandy Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Sep (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 53 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Brandy Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~7 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Brandy 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.
Fishing Brandy Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.02 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Brandy Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0398-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.66 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #69 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Brandy 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 Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Brandy Lake
What is the water quality grade for Brandy Lake?
- Brandy Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.7 µg/L.
Is Brandy Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Brandy Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Brandy Lake?
- Brandy Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 53 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Brandy Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Brandy Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 7 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
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Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA23 samples · 2022
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder