Grace Lake
Beltrami County, MinnesotaMesotrophic
Grace Lake sits at the top of the Minnesota PCA grading rubric with an A, a mark reached by the cleanest lakes in Minnesota. With clarity and phosphorus scored, the sub-grades cluster within a letter of each other, pointing to stable conditions rather than one specific stressor.
The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. A maximum depth of 42 ft puts Grace Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. The lake's 860 acres and 4.3 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Among the 92 graded lakes in Beltrami County, Grace Lake sits at rank 27, above the county median.
No invasive species are currently listed at Grace Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at Grace Lake, one of 13 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Grace Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Ice-out has been recorded 17 times at Grace Lake, with a median around Apr 27. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 15.5 ft down. Phosphorus level: 21.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.5 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | 21.5 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Average Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 859.82 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 40% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Grace Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Grace Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Grace Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.041 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.75 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (21 observations).
Estimated open water season: 213 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-19 (2024) | 2013-05-14 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-07 (2019) | 2024-11-30 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-22
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #27 of 92 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Grace Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Grace Lake With Nearby Lakes
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 43.13 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 40.38 | — |
| Bluegill | 23.34 | 0.25 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 20.80 | — |
| Pumpkinseed | 20.34 | 0.21 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 11.25 | 1 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
Pumpkinseed
Largemouth Bass
From the 2025-07-28 survey
Grace Lake is a 860-acre, highly developed natural lake located in southern Beltrami County, approximately 8 miles southeast of Bemidji, MN. Grace has an average water clarity of 7 feet and a maximum depth of 42 feet. There is a DNR-owned public access northwest side of the lake, and a 4-acre Aquatic Management Area…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Grace Lake. 4 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GraceFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Grace (1256)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GraceFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GracePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Grace 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 MN29-0071-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-10-15
Monitoring stations: 1