Cottage Lake
Cottage Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Becker County
Cottage Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Cottage Lake ranks #42 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Cottage Lake water quality
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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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Cottage Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cottage 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 Cottage Lake
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Water Temperature
Cottage Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Sep (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 43 field readings (2021–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cottage Lake water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Mac's LandingPublic
Fishing Cottage Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.11 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.69 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.25 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Cottage Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0475-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #42 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Cottage Lake
What is the water quality grade for Cottage Lake?
- Cottage Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L.
Is Cottage Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Cottage Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Cottage Lake?
- Cottage Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 43 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Cottage Lake?
- Cottage Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Mac's Landing. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cottage Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
22 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA22 samples · 2021
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory