Dickens Lake
Dickens Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Beltrami County
Dickens Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota. 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. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Dickens Lake ranks #45 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-25. 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 11 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Dickens Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dickens 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Dickens Lake
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Water Temperature
Dickens Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Feb (about 34°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 73 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dickens Lake water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Island LakePublic
Fishing Dickens Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.347 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.79 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.21 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #45 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Dickens Lake
What is the water quality grade for Dickens Lake?
- Dickens Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L.
Is Dickens Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Dickens Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Dickens Lake?
- Dickens Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 73 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Dickens Lake?
- Dickens Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Island Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Dickens Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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State Parks Near Dickens Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
97 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Red Lake DNR
REDLAKE_WQX97 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory