Munson Lake
Munson Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 134.45 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 134 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Becker County
Munson Lake is a 134-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Munson Lake ranks #73 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Munson Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Munson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Munson 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Munson Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Munson Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in Jun (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 139 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Munson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 134 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 36% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Munson LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Munson 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
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-15 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 32.41 | 0.16 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 9.36 | 0.66 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 8.12 | 0.21 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.38 | 0.11 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.00 | 0.23 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.08 | 1.02 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
Hybrid Sunfish
Yellow Perch
From the 2022-08-15 survey
Munson Lake is a heavily developed 123-acre lake located three miles southwest of Detroit Lakes, MN. Residential shoreline development had occurred on nearly all privately-owned lakeshore that was readily developable by the 1980's and development since that time has consisted of housing additions near the lakeshore.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Munson Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MunsonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Munson (1230)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MunsonFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MunsonPublic 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 | +0.021 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.3 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.89 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Munson 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 MN03-0382-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.58 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #73 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Munson Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Munson Lake
What is the water quality grade for Munson Lake?
- Munson Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 134.45 acres.
Is Munson Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Munson Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Munson Lake?
- Munson Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 139 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Munson Lake?
- Munson Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 134.45 acres.
What fish are in Munson Lake?
- Fish species found in Munson Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead. Munson Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Munson Lake?
- Munson Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Munson Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Munson Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Detroit Lakes Area area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Munson Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA23 samples · 2024
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