Campbell Lake
Campbell Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 462.62 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.7 ft
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 463 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 25
- Open water
- 207 days
Next lake in Beltrami County
Campbell Lake is a 463-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Campbell Lake ranks #72 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 21.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Campbell Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Campbell Lake in Beltrami 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 463 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 48% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Campbell LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Campbell Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CNM | 43.01 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 15.27 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 15.16 | 0.13 lb |
| BKF | 10.24 | — |
| IOD | 6.51 | — |
| Bluegill | 5.61 | 0.33 lb |
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
Bluegill
From the 2021-06-28 survey
Campbell Lake is a 462-acre lake with a maximum depth of 25 feet located 10 miles northwest of Bemidji in Beltrami County. There is a DNR public water access with a concrete ramp and parking for about 6 trucks/trailers located on the south shore of the lake and accessible from County Roads 9 and 22. Campbell Lake is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Campbell Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CampbellFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Campbell (1752)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CampbellFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CampbellPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.094 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.71 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (28 observations).
Estimated open water season: 207 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-25 (2012) | 2013-05-13 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2013-10-30 (2013) | 2016-12-07 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-05-02
EPA Impairment Status
Campbell 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 MN04-0196-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #72 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Campbell Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Campbell Lake
What is the water quality grade for Campbell Lake?
- Campbell Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 462.62 acres.
Is Campbell Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Campbell Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Campbell Lake?
- Campbell Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 462.62 acres.
What fish are in Campbell Lake?
- Fish species found in Campbell 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. Campbell Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
When does Campbell Lake thaw?
- Campbell Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 25. Ice typically forms around Nov 18. The open water season is approximately 207 days.
Are there boat ramps on Campbell Lake?
- Campbell Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Campbell Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Campbell Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Beltrami County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
45 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
MNPCA45 samples · 2020–2025
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate