Buffalo Lake
Becker County, Minnesota418 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Buffalo Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 38 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Buffalo Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 417.57 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 13, 2022 caught 4.67 walleye per gill net at Buffalo Lake. DNR survey details →
Buffalo Lake is a 418-acre lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 38 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-30. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Buffalo Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing14 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 18
- Deep water38 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Buffalo Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Buffalo 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 Buffalo Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Buffalo Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. TSI 43.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 11ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 43 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Buffalo Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Buffalo Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (58°F) to its warmest (79°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 23 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Buffalo Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 13, 2022 caught 4.67 walleye per gill net at Buffalo Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Buffalo 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-13 (Standard Survey).
10 surveys on file · most recent 2022-06-13 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 25.12 | 3–9 in 2022-06-13 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.03 | 5–8 in 2022-06-13 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 8.98 | 10–12 in 2022-06-13 | 0.39 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.60 | 10–17 in 2022-06-13 | 1.42 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 7.31 | 7–13 in 2022-06-13 | 0.61 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 5.80 | 8–14 in 2017-06-19 | 1.72 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
Largemouth Bass
From the 2022-06-13 survey
Buffalo Lake is a 376-acre, class 25 lake located in central Becker County near the community of Richwood. It is long and narrow with one bay extending north to the southern boundary of the White Earth Indian Reservation. Although it lies near the headwaters of the Buffalo River, it is the furthest downstream major…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Buffalo Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BuffaloFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Buffalo (1213)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BuffaloFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BuffaloPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
38 ft
Surface area
418 acres
Shoreline
7.6 mi
Littoral zone
46%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
55 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,434 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Buffalo 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 Buffalo Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Buffalo 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 Buffalo 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 Buffalo Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Buffalo 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 18
Earliest Apr 3, 2021 · Latest May 6, 2022
Most recent ice-out
Apr 6
2024
10 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Buffalo Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0350-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Buffalo Lake
Where is Buffalo Lake?
- Buffalo Lake is a lake in Becker County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Buffalo Lake?
- Buffalo Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 417.57 acres.
Is Buffalo Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Buffalo Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Buffalo Lake?
- Buffalo Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in September, from 23 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Buffalo Lake?
- Buffalo Lake has a maximum depth of 38 feet. The lake covers 417.57 acres.
What fish are in Buffalo Lake?
- Fish species found in Buffalo Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Buffalo Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Buffalo Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 13, 2022 caught 4.67 walleye per gill net at Buffalo Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Buffalo 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.
When does Buffalo Lake thaw?
- Buffalo Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18.
Are there boat ramps on Buffalo Lake?
- Buffalo Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Buffalo Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Buffalo Lake?
- Buffalo 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 Buffalo 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 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 readings
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA36 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
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