Maud Lake
Maud Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 17 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 517.01 acres.
- Clarity
- 17 ft
- Max depth
- 32 ft
- Area
- 517 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 23
- Open water
- 215 days
Next lake in Becker County
Maud Lake is a 517-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 32 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Maud Lake ranks #26 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Crystal clear, you can see 17 ft down. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Maud Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Maud 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Surface Area | 517 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 58% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Maud LakePublic
- Lake EunicePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Maud Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-07-19 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BNS | 617.00 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 42.00 | — |
| BKF | 34.67 | — |
| BCS | 25.87 | — |
| Bluegill | 25.43 | 0.2 lb |
| SUN | 14.84 | — |
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.
Bluegill
From the 2021-07-19 survey
Maud Lake is a 517-acre lake located in southwestern Becker County eleven miles southwest of Detroit Lakes. Maud Lake is considered moderately productive and possesses 300 littoral acres. The lake's shoreline is highly developed along its southern and northern shores. Special regulations exist for sunfish, Black…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Maud Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MaudFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Maud (1017)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MaudFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MaudPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.05 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.14 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.09 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (7 observations).
Estimated open water season: 215 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-11 (2005) | 2013-05-11 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2008-11-21 (2008) | 2007-11-27 (2007) |
Most recent ice-out: 2013-05-11
EPA Impairment Status
Maud Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0500-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #26 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Maud Lake
What is the water quality grade for Maud Lake?
- Maud Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 17 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 517.01 acres.
Is Maud Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Maud Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Maud Lake?
- Maud Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake covers 517.01 acres.
What fish are in Maud Lake?
- Fish species found in Maud Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Maud Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
When does Maud Lake thaw?
- Maud Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 23. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 215 days.
Are there boat ramps on Maud Lake?
- Maud Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Maud Lake, Lake Eunice. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Maud 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 Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Compare Maud Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
138 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
MNPCA138 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate