Julia Lake
Julia Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 43 ft. Surface area: 511.26 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 66°F
- Max depth
- 43 ft
- Area
- 511 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 29
- Open water
- 210 days
Next lake in Beltrami County
Julia Lake is a 511-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 43 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 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, Julia Lake ranks #31 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 9.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Julia Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Julia 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.
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Water Temperature
Julia Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 67°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 64 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Julia Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 43 ft |
| Surface Area | 511 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 33% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake JuliaPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Julia Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-03 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 66.31 | 0.23 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 29.73 | 0.25 lb |
| CNM | 25.52 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 25.25 | 0.44 lb |
| Walleye | 9.22 | 2 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.10 | 0.92 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 Perch
Black Bullhead
Walleye
From the 2024-06-03 survey
In spring 2021, a daily bag limit reduction for sunfish (5 fish/day) was implemented on Lake Beltrami as part of the statewide Quality Sunfish Initiative (QSI). The goal of this special regulation is to maintain or improve Bluegill size structure by reducing angler harvest. In order to evaluate effectiveness of the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Julia Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — JuliaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Julia (1751)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — JuliaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — JuliaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.304 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +38.89 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.09 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (12 observations).
Estimated open water season: 210 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-04-16 (2015) | 2013-05-14 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2006-11-22 (2006) | 2007-11-27 (2007) |
Most recent ice-out: 2016-04-16
EPA Impairment Status
Julia 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 MN04-0166-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #31 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Julia Lake
What is the water quality grade for Julia Lake?
- Julia Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 43 ft. Surface area: 511.26 acres.
Is Julia Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Julia Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Julia Lake?
- Julia Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August, from 64 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Julia Lake?
- Julia Lake has a maximum depth of 43 feet. The lake covers 511.26 acres.
What fish are in Julia Lake?
- Fish species found in Julia Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, yellow perch. Julia Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
When does Julia Lake thaw?
- Julia Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 29. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 210 days.
Are there boat ramps on Julia Lake?
- Julia Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Julia. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Julia 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
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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State Parks Near Julia Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Julia Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
39 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA39 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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