Johnson Lake
Johnson Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 183.36 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 183 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Becker County
Johnson Lake is a 183-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Johnson Lake ranks #34 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-27. 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Johnson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Johnson 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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Water Temperature
Johnson Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 69°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 161 field readings (2016–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Johnson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 183 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 55% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Johnson Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1984-07-23 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 38.50 | 0.22 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 24.32 | 0.52 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.38 | 2.31 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.44 | 0.25 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 2.25 | 0.5 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 1.31 | 0.67 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1984-07-23 survey
NORTHERN PIKE, YELLOW PERCH, AND YELLOW BULLHEAD POPULATIONS ARE ALL WELL-ABOVE STATE AND LOCAL MEDIAN NUMBERS. THE ONLY SPECIES TO SHOW A SIGNIFI CANT DECLINE IN TEST NET CATCH IS THE BLUEGILL- POSSIBLY DUE TO CHANGE IN SURVEY DATE FROM LATE JUNE TO LATE JULY.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Johnson Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — JohnsonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #34 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Johnson Lake
What is the water quality grade for Johnson Lake?
- Johnson Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 183.36 acres.
Is Johnson Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Johnson Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Johnson Lake?
- Johnson Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 161 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Johnson Lake?
- Johnson Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 183.36 acres.
Explore Johnson Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA24 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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