Irving Lake
Irving Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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.
- Clarity
- 5.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 662 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 24
- Open water
- 208 days
Next lake in Beltrami County
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). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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 4 public boat landings. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Irving Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 10.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 32 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.2 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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
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 →
Water Temperature
Irving Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Average Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 662 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 83% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake IrvingPublic
- Nymore BeachPublic
- Cameron ParkPublic
- Diamond PointPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-01 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 53.77 | 0.2 lb |
| CSH | 25.95 | — |
| BKF | 13.54 | — |
| Spottail Shiner | 7.77 | — |
| Rock Bass | 6.41 | 0.57 lb |
| White Sucker | 5.49 | 2.04 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
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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.182 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.06 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.06 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (29 observations).
Estimated open water season: 208 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2021-04-03 (2021) | 2013-05-11 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-07 (2003) | 2024-11-28 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-23
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #62 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Irving Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Irving Lake
What is the water quality grade for Irving Lake?
- Irving Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Irving Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 10.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Irving Lake?
- Irving Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, 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.
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 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Irving, Nymore Beach, Cameron Park, Diamond Point. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Irving Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded 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 grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Irving Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
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)
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 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