Movil Lake
Beltrami County, Minnesota855 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Movil Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 50 ft max depth
- Public access
Movil Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 855.17 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 8, 2022 caught 0.42 walleye per trap net at Movil Lake. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Movil Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 50 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Movil Lake is a 855-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 50 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 20 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Movil Lake ranks #35 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Movil Lake covers about 860 acres in Beltrami County. The median ice-out date is April 20, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Movil Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Movil Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14 ft of visibility
- Fishing20 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 20
- Deep water50 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Movil Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Movil Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Movil Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Movil Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Phosphorus 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.3 µg/L. TSI 42.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 14ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 12µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 5.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 42 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Movil Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Movil Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (58°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 67 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Movil Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 8, 2022 caught 0.42 walleye per trap net at Movil Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Movil Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-04 (Targeted Survey).
13 surveys on file · most recent 2025-08-04 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 20.50 | 4–8 in 2022-08-08 | 0.15 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 11.10 | ||
| Bluegill | 10.60 | 3–9 in 2022-08-08 | 0.2 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Bluegill
From the 2025-08-04 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Movil Lake on August 4th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Movil Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MovilFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MovilFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MovilPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
50 ft
Surface area
855 acres
Shoreline
9.2 mi
Littoral zone
60%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Movil Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Movil 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 Movil Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow Movil Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Movil Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.29 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.12 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 20
Earliest Mar 25, 2012 · Latest May 14, 2013
Most recent ice-out
Apr 1
2021
43 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Movil Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Movil Lake (completed 1938), built primarily for recreation on the TURTLE RIVER; gravity-type dam, 12 ft tall and 55 ft long.
- Surface area
- 853 ac
- Normal storage
- 12,960 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 19,018 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 56.4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00015 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Movil Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN04-0152-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Movil Lake
Where is Movil Lake?
- Movil Lake is a lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Movil Lake?
- Movil Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 855.17 acres.
Is Movil Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Movil Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Movil Lake?
- Movil Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in September, from 67 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Movil Lake?
- Movil Lake has a maximum depth of 50 feet. The lake covers 855.17 acres.
What fish are in Movil Lake?
- Fish species found in Movil Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, burbot, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, northern sunfish, pumpkinseed, redhorse, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Movil Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Movil Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 8, 2022 caught 0.42 walleye per trap net at Movil Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Movil Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Movil Lake thaw?
- Movil Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20.
Can I fish at Movil Lake?
- Public access to Movil Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Movil Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Movil Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Movil Lake With Nearby Lakes
Beltrami County · 12.5 ft
Beltrami County · 10.2 ft
Beltrami County · 11.2 ft
Beltrami County · 11.8 ft
Beltrami County · 6.5 ft
Beltrami County · 9.7 ft
Where this data comes from
167 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA166 samples · 2020–2025 - Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Monitoring
MNDA_PESTICIDE1 sample · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate