Green Lake
Beltrami County, MinnesotaOligotrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric, Green Lake pulls an A: clarity at 39.4 ft and 10 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Minnesota. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
A TSI value of 31 puts Green Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Among the 86 graded lakes in Beltrami County, Green Lake ranks 9 — in the top quartile locally.
No invasive species are currently listed at Green Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Green Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-07-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 39.4 ft down. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 31.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 39.4 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 31 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.043 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.11 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 86 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Green Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-07-29
Monitoring stations: 1