Medicine Lake
Medicine Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 461.28 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 68°F
- Max depth
- 44 ft
- Area
- 461 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 5
- Open water
- 199 days
Next lake in Beltrami County
Medicine Lake is a 461-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 44 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Medicine Lake ranks #60 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 onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Elevated cyanobacteria detected — see the algae advisory
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Medicine Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Medicine 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.
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Water Temperature
Medicine Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 68°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 74 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Medicine Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
A significant bloom was detected. Avoid swimming and keep children and dogs out of the water — blue-green algae can produce toxins.
EPA CyAN satellite reading from August 15, 2026 (steady) · 16 weekly estimates shown (128 on record). Satellite estimates cover only open water and can miss shoreline scums — always check your state’s current advisory before entering. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 44 ft |
| Surface Area | 461 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 67% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Medicine LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Medicine Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-25 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BCS | 43.30 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 8.96 | — |
| CNM | 8.20 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 5.87 | 0.14 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.69 | 0.2 lb |
| GOS | 4.77 | 0.05 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
Pumpkinseed
GOS
From the 2025-08-25 survey
Minnesota DNR LBMA staff delineated the floating leaf and emergent aquatic vegetation of Medicine Lake on August 25th, 2025, following the protocols listed in the MN DNR Lake Plant Mapping Manual. There was a total of 140.85 acres of floating and emergent plants mapped. This consisted of 70.28 acres of emergent…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Medicine Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MedicineFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Medicine (1733)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MedicineFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MedicinePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.018 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.33 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.07 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
Estimated open water season: 199 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-04-13 (2015) | 2022-05-07 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2008-11-08 (2008) | 2007-11-25 (2007) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-07
County Ranking
Ranked #60 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Medicine Lake holds Grade B. 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 Medicine Lake
What is the water quality grade for Medicine Lake?
- Medicine Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 461.28 acres.
Is Medicine Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Medicine Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Medicine Lake?
- Medicine Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, from 74 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Medicine Lake?
- Medicine Lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet. The lake covers 461.28 acres.
What fish are in Medicine Lake?
- Fish species found in Medicine Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, freshwater drum, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Medicine Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
When does Medicine Lake thaw?
- Medicine Lake typically has ice-out around May 5. Ice typically forms around Nov 20. The open water season is approximately 199 days.
Does Medicine Lake have blue-green algae?
- EPA CyAN satellite data last estimated Medicine Lake's cyanobacteria density at 328,095 cells/mL (high bloom risk). Satellite estimates cover open water and can miss shoreline scums, so always check Minnesota's current advisory before entering.
Are there boat ramps on Medicine Lake?
- Medicine Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Medicine Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Medicine Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
115 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
MNPCA115 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by 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
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