Mill Lake
Mill Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 154.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 10 ft
- Area
- 155 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Becker County
Mill Lake is a 155-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 10 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 14 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, Mill Lake ranks #18 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-08-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Mill Lake water quality
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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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Mill Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mill 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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Water Temperature
Mill Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 74°F) and coldest in May (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mill Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 155 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Sauers LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mill 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
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2005-06-27 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 25.38 | 0.24 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 15.78 | 0.45 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 10.58 | 0.18 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.94 | 1.28 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 6.81 | 0.32 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 4.44 | 0.55 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
Pumpkinseed
Northern Pike
From the 2005-06-27 survey
Mill Lake has no designated public boat ramp but boat access can be obtained from Lake Melissa via the Pelican River. Shore fishing is popular through much of the summer near the outlet dam (Buck's Mill). Technically, the lake is a reservoir since the dam maintains the water level about six feet higher than would…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mill Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MillFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Mill Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Buck'S Mill (completed 1937), built primarily for other on the Pelican River; concrete-type dam, 16 ft tall and 70 ft long.
- Surface area
- 160 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,425 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,600 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 135 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR-Fisheries
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN01638 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.73 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Mill 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 MN03-0475-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.2 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #18 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Mill Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mill Lake?
- Mill Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 154.5 acres.
Is Mill Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Mill Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Mill Lake?
- Mill Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 25 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mill Lake?
- Mill Lake has a maximum depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 154.5 acres.
What fish are in Mill Lake?
- Fish species found in Mill Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Mill Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Mill Lake?
- Mill Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sauers Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Mill Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
22 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA22 samples · 2023
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