Lee Lake
Lee Lake in Becker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.3 ft visibility.
- Clarity
- 6.3 ft
- Mean depth
- ~9 ft est.
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 15
- Open water
- 220 days
Next lake in Becker County
Why Lee Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Lee Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Lee Lake is a lake in Becker County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 9 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Lee Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lee Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lee 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Lee Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~9 ft est. |
| Public Access | No |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Lee Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Lee Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.361 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (34 observations).
Estimated open water season: 220 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-17 (2024) | 2013-05-08 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1991-10-25 (1991) | 2006-11-30 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-17
EPA Impairment Status
Lee 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 MN03-0619-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.27 km)
Graded lakes near Lee Lake
Lee Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Lee Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lee Lake?
- Lee Lake in Becker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.3 ft visibility.
Is Lee Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lee Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Lee Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Lee Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 9 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
When does Lee Lake thaw?
- Lee Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 21. The open water season is approximately 220 days.
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Where this data comes from
58 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
MNPCA58 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate