Irving Lake
Beltrami County, Minnesota662 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Irving Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 19 ft max depth
- Public access
Irving Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 661.63 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 1, 2022 caught 5.00 walleye per gill net at Irving Lake. DNR survey details →
Irving Lake is a 662-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet (10-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 20 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Irving Lake ranks #62 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Irving Lake covers about 660 acres in Beltrami County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 24, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Irving Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Irving Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing20 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 24
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Irving Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Irving Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Irving Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Irving Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft. Phosphorus 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10.2 µg/L. TSI 53.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5.6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 32µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 10.2µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 53 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Irving Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Irving Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (58°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 21 field readings (2016–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Irving Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Irving Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (102,802 cells/mL) on July 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 1, 2022 caught 5.00 walleye per gill net at Irving Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Irving Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-01 (Standard Survey).
7 surveys on file · most recent 2022-08-01 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 53.77 | 4–11 in 2022-08-01 | 0.2 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 7.77 | ||
| Rock Bass | 6.41 | 3–11 in 2022-08-01 | 0.57 lb |
| White Sucker | 5.49 | 16–19 in 2022-08-01 | 2.04 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Rock Bass
White Sucker
From the 2022-08-01 survey
Lake Irving is a 661-acre, heavily developed natural lake located in southern Beltrami County, within the city of Bemidji, and on the Mississippi River. Irving has an average water clarity of 2 feet and a maximum depth of 19 feet. Lake Irving has an inlet via the Mississippi River located on the southern shore and an…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Irving Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — IrvingFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Irving (1726)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — IrvingPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
19 ft
Average depth
10 ft
Surface area
662 acres
Shoreline
5.2 mi
Littoral zone
83%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
544 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,332 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake IrvingPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Irving Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Irving 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 Irving Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Irving 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.06 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-2.06 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 24
Earliest Apr 3, 2021 · Latest May 11, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 18
Earliest Nov 7, 2003 · Latest Nov 28, 2024
Most recent ice-out
Apr 23
2025
29 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Irving Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN04-0140-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Irving Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Bemidji WwtpBemidji · 0.7 mi away · NPDES MN0022462MajorRecent 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.
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Irving Lake
Where is Irving Lake?
- Irving Lake is a lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Irving Lake?
- Irving Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 661.63 acres.
Is Irving Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Irving Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Irving Lake?
- Irving Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September, from 21 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Irving Lake?
- Irving Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet and an average depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 661.63 acres.
What fish are in Irving Lake?
- Fish species found in Irving Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, burbot, greater redhorse, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Irving Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Irving Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 1, 2022 caught 5.00 walleye per gill net at Irving Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Irving Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Irving Lake thaw?
- Irving Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 24. Ice typically forms around Nov 18. The open water season is approximately 208 days.
Does Irving Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Irving Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (102,802 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Irving Lake?
- Irving Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Irving. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Irving Lake?
- Irving Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Irving Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Beltrami County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Irving Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
98 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA98 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate