Kitchi Lake
Beltrami County, Minnesota1,865 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- zebra mussel
- #75 of 85 in the county
- 50 ft max depth
- Limited data
Kitchi Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 1864.98 acres.
Minnesota DNR surveys at Kitchi Lake average 38.44 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 29, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–10 inches. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 8.2 ft
- Typical in September
- 62°F
- Max depth
- 50 ft
- Area
- 1,865 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 22
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Kitchi Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 50 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Kitchi Lake is a 1,865-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 50 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Kitchi Lake ranks #75 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Kitchi Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing16 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 22
- Deep water50 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,865 acres
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.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.2 ft. Phosphorus 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.5 µg/L. TSI 49. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Kitchi Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 69°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 91 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Kitchi Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR surveys at Kitchi Lake average 38.44 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 29, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–10 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Kitchi Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-29 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 38.44 | 0.15 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 7.39 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 6.63 | — |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This 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
From the 2024-07-29 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Kitchi Lake, which is located wholly within the Leech Lake Nation, was conducted on July 29 - August 1, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Kitchi Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — KitchiFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — KitchiFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 50 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,865 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 14.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Kitchi 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.08 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.62 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (5 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-14 (2005) | 2011-04-25 (2011) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-07 (2003) | 2004-12-03 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2011-04-25
County Ranking
Ranked #75 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Kitchi Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Kitchi Lake
Where is Kitchi Lake?
- Kitchi Lake is a lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Kitchi Lake?
- Kitchi Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 1864.98 acres.
Is Kitchi Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Kitchi Lake?
- Kitchi Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September, from 91 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Kitchi Lake?
- Kitchi Lake has a maximum depth of 50 feet. The lake covers 1864.98 acres.
What fish are in Kitchi Lake?
- Fish species found in Kitchi Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Kitchi Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Kitchi Lake?
- Minnesota DNR surveys at Kitchi Lake average 38.44 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 29, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–10 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Kitchi Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Kitchi Lake thaw?
- Kitchi Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 22.
Explore Kitchi Lake across LakeQuality
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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Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
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Compare Kitchi Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
33 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX24 samples · 2025 - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA9 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate