Muskrat Lake
Muskrat Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 69 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 69 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Becker County
Muskrat Lake is a 69-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. 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 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Muskrat Lake ranks #66 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-08-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Muskrat 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 25.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Muskrat Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Muskrat 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 Muskrat 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
Muskrat Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Jun (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 44 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Muskrat Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 69 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 93% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Sallie LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Muskrat 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
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 45.53 | 0.13 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 18.41 | 0.38 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 7.15 | 0.53 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.73 | 0.14 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.27 | 1.71 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.64 | 0.21 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
Black Bullhead
Yellow Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-07-29 survey
Muskrat Lake is a 67-acre lake located on the Pelican River between Detroit and Sallie lakes. The lake's west shore consists of a dike which was built during the early 1900s to raise lake levels in Muskrat and Detroit. A lock and dam system to facilitate commercial boat passage was built into the north end of this…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Muskrat Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MuskratFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.195 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.69 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.13 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Muskrat Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Muskrat Lake (completed 1888), built primarily for recreation on the Pelican River; rockfill-type dam, 11 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 59 ac
- Normal storage
- 650 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 85.1 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR-Fisheries
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00885 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Muskrat 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 MN03-0360-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #66 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Muskrat 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 Muskrat Lake
What is the water quality grade for Muskrat Lake?
- Muskrat Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 69 acres.
Is Muskrat Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Muskrat Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Muskrat Lake?
- Muskrat Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 44 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Muskrat Lake?
- Muskrat Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake covers 69 acres.
What fish are in Muskrat Lake?
- Fish species found in Muskrat Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, yellow bullhead. Muskrat Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Muskrat Lake?
- Muskrat Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sallie Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Muskrat 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 Muskrat Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA24 samples · 2021
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