Detroit Lake
Detroit Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 89 ft. Surface area: 3067.11 acres.
- Clarity
- 14 ft
- Max depth
- 89 ft
- Area
- 3,067 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 21
- Open water
- 217 days
Next lake in Becker County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Detroit Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 80 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Detroit Lake is a 3,067-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 89 feet (15-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 19 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Detroit Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. 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 14 ft. Phosphorus level: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Detroit Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Detroit 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 Detroit Lake
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Detroit Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Detroit Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (97,275 cells/mL) on April 19, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 89 ft |
| Average Depth | 14.8 ft |
| Surface Area | 3,067 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 12.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 62% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Detroit Lake (Northwest)Public
- Detroit Lake (Northcentral)Public
- Detroit Lake (Northeast)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Detroit 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
21 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-04-23 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge | 2057.65 | 13.37 lb |
| Bluegill | 36.21 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 9.60 | 0.57 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 7.13 | — |
| Black Crappie | 6.24 | 0.42 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.09 | 0.18 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.
Muskellunge
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
Black Crappie
From the 2025-04-23 survey
This assessment was conducted using large-frame trap nets set in spring to examine the sizes of mature Muskellunge in Detroit Lake. Muskellunge were first introduced into the lake in 1989, with directed Muskellunge surveys beginning on Detroit Lake in 1993. Sixteen surveys had been conducted prior to 2025. This…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Detroit Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DetroitFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Detroit (1186)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — DetroitFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — DetroitPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.173 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.19 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.11 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (401 observations).
Estimated open water season: 217 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 1910-03-23 (1910) | 1950-05-17 (1950) |
| Ice-In | 1919-10-25 (1919) | 1999-12-16 (1999) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-12
EPA Impairment Status
Detroit 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 MN03-0381-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Detroit Lake
What is the water quality grade for Detroit Lake?
- Detroit Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 89 ft. Surface area: 3067.11 acres.
Is Detroit Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Detroit Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Detroit Lake?
- Detroit Lake has a maximum depth of 89 feet and an average depth of 14.8 feet. The lake covers 3067.11 acres.
What fish are in Detroit Lake?
- Fish species found in Detroit Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Detroit Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
When does Detroit Lake thaw?
- Detroit Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 21. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 217 days.
Does Detroit Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Detroit Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (97,275 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Detroit Lake?
- Detroit Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Detroit Lake (Northwest), Detroit Lake (Northcentral), Detroit Lake (Northeast). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Detroit 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 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 grade
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Detroit Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Detroit Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
354 measurements from 4 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
MNPCA354 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 (4)
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