Ice Cracking Lake
Ice Cracking Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 73 ft. Surface area: 345.32 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.1 ft
- Max depth
- 73 ft
- Area
- 345 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Becker County
Ice Cracking Lake is a 345-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 73 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Ice Cracking Lake ranks #48 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 12.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Ice Cracking Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ice Cracking 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 | 73 ft |
| Surface Area | 345 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 23% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ice Cracking Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2004-08-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 15.26 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 7.50 | 0.8 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 4.91 | 0.76 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.30 | 1.82 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.88 | 0.13 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.19 | 0.22 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 Bass
Tullibee (Cisco)
Northern Pike
From the 2004-08-09 survey
Ice Cracking Lake is a 331 acre lake located in northeastern Becker County along the east edge of the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. There is no public access but there is a resort/campground with a privately owned access on the east end of the lake. The lake lies within the boundaries of the White Earth Indian…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ice Cracking Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Ice CrackingFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Ice CrackingFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.3 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.25 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.45 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #48 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Ice Cracking Lake
What is the water quality grade for Ice Cracking Lake?
- Ice Cracking Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 73 ft. Surface area: 345.32 acres.
Is Ice Cracking Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Ice Cracking Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Ice Cracking Lake?
- Ice Cracking Lake has a maximum depth of 73 feet. The lake covers 345.32 acres.
What fish are in Ice Cracking Lake?
- Fish species found in Ice Cracking Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Ice Cracking Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
Explore Ice Cracking Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX36 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder