Butterfield Lake
Butterfield Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 193.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 23 ft
- Area
- 194 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 15
- Open water
- 213 days
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Butterfield Lake is a 194-acre mesotrophic lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 23 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Crow Wing County, Butterfield Lake ranks #39 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Butterfield Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Butterfield Lake in Crow Wing 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
Butterfield Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 78 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Butterfield Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft |
| Surface Area | 194 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 70% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Butterfield Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1981-06-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 37.13 | 0.17 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 15.50 | 0.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.04 | 1.5 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.38 | 0.2 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.54 | 2.66 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.38 | 0.52 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1981-06-24 survey
Test netting indicates a good Northern Pike population although fish are small. Also a good population of Crappies and Bluegills were present. Local reports indicated a good Largemouth Bass population also, though netting didn't show many.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Butterfield Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ButterfieldFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.004 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.76 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.43 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (13 observations).
Estimated open water season: 213 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-04-09 (2015) | 2022-05-04 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-10 (2017) | 2015-12-20 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-04
County Ranking
Ranked #39 of 85 lakes in Crow Wing County
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Butterfield Lake
What is the water quality grade for Butterfield Lake?
- Butterfield Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 193.7 acres.
Is Butterfield Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Butterfield Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Butterfield Lake?
- Butterfield Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 78 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Butterfield Lake?
- Butterfield Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 193.7 acres.
When does Butterfield Lake thaw?
- Butterfield Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 14. The open water season is approximately 213 days.
Explore Butterfield Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
156 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
MNPCA156 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate