Buck Lake
Beltrami County, Minnesota360 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- zebra mussel
- #32 of 85 in the county
- 40 ft max depth
- Limited data
Buck Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 360.04 acres.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Typical in September
- 58°F
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 360 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 15 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 4.3 µg/L
- Public access
- No
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Watch Buck Lake’s letter
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Buck Lake is a 360-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Buck Lake ranks #32 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Buck Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12 ft of visibility
- Deep water40 ft surveyed max depth
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.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Phosphorus 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.3 µg/L. TSI 43. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Buck Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 61°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 64°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 142 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Buck Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 360 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 19% |
| Public Access | No |
Fishing Buck 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #32 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Buck Lake
Where is Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake is a lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 360.04 acres.
Is Buck Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in September, from 142 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 360.04 acres.
Explore Buck Lake across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX24 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder