Little Turtle Lake
Little Turtle Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 468.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 469 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 29
- Open water
- 206 days
Next lake in Beltrami County
Little Turtle Lake is a 469-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Little Turtle Lake ranks #68 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 23.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Turtle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Turtle 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Little Turtle Lake
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Water Temperature
Little Turtle Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in May (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 23 field readings (2016–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Turtle Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 469 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 64% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Turtle Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-08-02 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CNM | 24.30 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 19.68 | 0.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.14 | 1.58 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.36 | 1.96 lb |
| Bluegill | 3.99 | 0.5 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 3.90 | 1.73 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
Northern Pike
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
From the 2021-08-02 survey
Little Turtle is a 469-acre lake with a maximum depth of 25 feet located 10 miles north of Bemidji in Beltrami County. Little Turtle is part of a connected chain of lakes known as the Turtle River chain. Little Turtle is accessed by boat via the Turtle River from Big Turtle Lake which lies just downstream. Access is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Turtle Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little TurtleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | 0 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.03 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (24 observations).
Estimated open water season: 206 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-04-11 (2016) | 2013-05-14 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-10 (2017) | 2024-11-29 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-22
EPA Impairment Status
Little Turtle 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 MN04-0155-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #68 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Little Turtle Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Little Turtle Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Turtle Lake?
- Little Turtle Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 468.5 acres.
Is Little Turtle Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Little Turtle Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 12 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Turtle Lake?
- Little Turtle Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 23 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Turtle Lake?
- Little Turtle Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 468.5 acres.
What fish are in Little Turtle Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Turtle Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, northern sunfish, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Turtle Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
When does Little Turtle Lake thaw?
- Little Turtle Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 29. Ice typically forms around Nov 21. The open water season is approximately 206 days.
Explore Little Turtle 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
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Where this data comes from
179 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
MNPCA179 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate