German Lake
German Lake in Becker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 29.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 417.57 acres.
- Max depth
- 38 ft
- Area
- 418 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
Next lake in Becker County
Why German Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For German Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a), but not water clarity.
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
German Lake is a 418-acre lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 38 feet. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for German Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 29.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 34 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 29.9 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near German Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near German 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 38 ft |
| Surface Area | 418 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 46% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing German 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-13 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 25.12 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.03 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 8.98 | 0.39 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.60 | 1.42 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 7.31 | 0.61 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 5.80 | 1.72 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
Largemouth Bass
From the 2022-06-13 survey
Buffalo Lake is a 376-acre, class 25 lake located in central Becker County near the community of Richwood. It is long and narrow with one bay extending north to the southern boundary of the White Earth Indian Reservation. Although it lies near the headwaters of the Buffalo River, it is the furthest downstream major…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for German Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BuffaloFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Buffalo (1213)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BuffaloFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BuffaloPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2021-04-03 (2021) | 2022-05-06 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2023-11-25 (2023) | 2024-11-29 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-06
EPA Impairment Status
German 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 MN03-0350-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.71 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of German Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- CallawayCallaway · 3.8 mi away · NPDES MN0022985Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near German Lake
German Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about German Lake
What is the water quality grade for German Lake?
- German Lake in Becker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 29.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 417.57 acres.
Is German Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. German Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 29.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is German Lake?
- German Lake has a maximum depth of 38 feet. The lake covers 417.57 acres.
What fish are in German Lake?
- Fish species found in German Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. German Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
When does German Lake thaw?
- German Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18.
Explore German Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA3 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate