North Tamarac Lake
North Tamarac Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 21.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 1442.3 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 1,442 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near North Tamarac Lake →
Next lake in Becker County
North Tamarac Lake is a 1,442-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, North Tamarac Lake ranks #77 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 21.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 36 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 21.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near North Tamarac Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Tamarac 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around North Tamarac Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near North Tamarac Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
North Tamarac Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Jun (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 35 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full North Tamarac Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,442 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 12.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 96% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Tamarack Lake (East)Public
- Tamarack Lake (North)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing North Tamarac Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.03 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -9.65 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.95 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
North Tamarac Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4C).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0241-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.21 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #77 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
North Tamarac Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about North Tamarac Lake
What is the water quality grade for North Tamarac Lake?
- North Tamarac Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 21.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 1442.3 acres.
Is North Tamarac Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. North Tamarac Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 21.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of North Tamarac Lake?
- North Tamarac Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 35 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is North Tamarac Lake?
- North Tamarac Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 1442.3 acres.
What fish are in North Tamarac Lake?
- Fish species found in North Tamarac Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. North Tamarac Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on North Tamarac Lake?
- North Tamarac Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Tamarack Lake (East), Tamarack Lake (North). Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
56 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA56 samples · 2022–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
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