Pug Hole Lake
Beltrami County, MinnesotaView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- zebra mussel
- #58 of 85 in the county
- Limited data
Pug Hole Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 10.7 ft
- Typical in September
- 59°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
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Watch Pug Hole Lake’s letter
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Pug Hole Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Pug Hole Lake ranks #58 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Pug Hole Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10.7 ft of visibility
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.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.7 ft. Phosphorus 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.2 µg/L. TSI 47. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Pug Hole Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 61°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 62°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 70 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pug Hole Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Pug Hole 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.
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.323 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.03 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #58 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Pug Hole Lake
Where is Pug Hole Lake?
- Pug Hole Lake is a lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Pug Hole Lake?
- Pug Hole Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L.
Is Pug Hole Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Pug Hole Lake?
- Pug Hole Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in September, from 70 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
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Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX24 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
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.