Movil Lake
Beltrami County, MinnesotaOligotrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric, Movil Lake pulls an A: clarity at 14.0 ft and 12 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Minnesota. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.
A TSI value of 40 puts Movil Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. The lake's 50 ft maximum depth is in the upper tier for Minnesota — deep enough for cold-water fish to find refuge in summer. At 855 acres, Movil Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 9.2 miles of shoreline. Among the 92 graded lakes in Beltrami County, Movil Lake sits at rank 38, above the county median.
No invasive species are currently listed at Movil Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at Movil Lake, one of 20 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Movil Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a long ice-out record — 42 observations on file, with a median ice-out around Apr 20. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Phosphorus level: 12 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 12 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 50 ft |
| Surface Area | 855.17 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 60% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Movil Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Movil Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Movil Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.186 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.35 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (43 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-25 (2012) | 2013-05-14 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-10 (2017) | 2017-11-10 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2021-04-01
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #38 of 92 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Movil Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Movil Lake With Nearby Lakes
Beltrami County · Grade A
Beltrami County · Grade B
Beltrami County · Grade A
Beltrami County · Grade A
Beltrami County · Grade B
Beltrami County · Grade A
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-04 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CNM | 45.46 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 20.50 | 0.15 lb |
| BKF | 13.58 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 11.10 | — |
| Bluegill | 10.60 | 0.2 lb |
| IOD | 10.59 | — |
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
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.
- —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
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN04-0152-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-09-15
Monitoring stations: 3