Kitchi West Arm Lake
Beltrami County, MinnesotaMesotrophic
Kitchi West Arm Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including 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. Compared to the 91 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Kitchi West Arm Lake ranks #58 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 7.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.7 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Kitchi West Arm Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Kitchi West Arm Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Kitchi West Arm Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
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 |
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
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #58 of 92 lakes in Beltrami County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Kitchi West Arm Lake holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ACass LakeBeltrami County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- ABuck LakeBeltrami County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Kitchi West Arm Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2025-10-15
Monitoring stations: 1