Lower Red Lake : West
Lower Red Lake : West in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.6 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Mean depth
- ~12 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lower Red Lake : West →
Next lake in Beltrami County
Lower Red Lake : West is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 12 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Lower Red Lake : West ranks #84 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2026-05-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lower Red Lake : West water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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 4 ft. Phosphorus level: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 11.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.6 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lower Red Lake : West
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Red Lake : West 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Lower Red Lake : West are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lower Red Lake : West
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Lower Red Lake : West typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Jan (about 32°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 160 field readings (2010–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lower Red Lake : West water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~12 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Lower Red Lake : West.
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 Lower Red Lake : West
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | 0 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.14 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.39 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #84 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lower Red Lake : West holds Grade D. 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 Lower Red Lake : West
What is the water quality grade for Lower Red Lake : West?
- Lower Red Lake : West in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.6 µg/L.
Is Lower Red Lake : West safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Lower Red Lake : West has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 11.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lower Red Lake : West?
- Lower Red Lake : West typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 160 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lower Red Lake : West?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Lower Red Lake : West, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 12 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
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Where this data comes from
322 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Red Lake DNR
REDLAKE_WQX322 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder