Little Sugar Bush Lake
Little Sugar Bush Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 220.53 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.9 ft
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 221 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Little Sugar Bush Lake →
Next lake in Becker County
Little Sugar Bush Lake is a 221-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Little Sugar Bush Lake ranks #80 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-14. 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 5.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 20.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 20.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Sugar Bush Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Sugar Bush 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Little Sugar Bush Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Little Sugar Bush Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 221 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 45% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Sugar Bush LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Sugar Bush Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-06 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 34.33 | 0.18 lb |
| Bluegill | 27.62 | 0.21 lb |
| CNM | 14.41 | — |
| IOD | 12.59 | — |
| Green Sunfish | 8.72 | 0.13 lb |
| Northern Pike | 7.53 | 1.84 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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Green Sunfish
Northern Pike
From the 2023-06-06 survey
Little Sugar Bush Lake is a 221-acre lake located in central Becker County near the community of Richwood. The lake is located within the White Earth Indian Reservation. The lake is moderately developed and surrounded by hardwood forest, marsh, and agricultural land. Submerged vegetation is common throughout near…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Sugar Bush Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little Sugar BushFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Sugar Bush (1023)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little Sugar BushFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little Sugar BushPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #80 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Little Sugar Bush Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Little Sugar Bush Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Sugar Bush Lake?
- Little Sugar Bush Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 220.53 acres.
Is Little Sugar Bush Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Little Sugar Bush Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 20.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Little Sugar Bush Lake?
- Little Sugar Bush Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 220.53 acres.
What fish are in Little Sugar Bush Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Sugar Bush Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Sugar Bush Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Little Sugar Bush Lake?
- Little Sugar Bush Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Sugar Bush Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Sugar Bush Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
34 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX34 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory