Rossman Lake
Rossman Lake in Becker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 272.68 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 273 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 26
- Open water
- 207 days
Next lake in Becker County
Why Rossman Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Rossman Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Rossman Lake is a 273-acre lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 20 feet (8-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Rossman Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Rossman Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rossman 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 Rossman Lake
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Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Rossman Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (62,517 cells/mL) on November 15, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Average Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 273 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 85% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Rossman Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1993-06-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 43.43 | 0.4 lb |
| Bluegill | 21.07 | 0.34 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 9.75 | 0.32 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 5.85 | 0.72 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.76 | 0.31 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 4.70 | 0.57 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.
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Hybrid Sunfish
Brown Bullhead
From the 1993-06-21 survey
Rossman (Erickson) Lake has a tendency to partially winterkill during some winters. Algal blooms and lowwater clarity often make mid-summer angling difficult. Fish populations are somewhat indicative of a winterkilllake with high populations of black bullhead, northern pike, and bluegill. Northern pike tend to be…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Rossman Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RossmanFisheries 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 | → Stable | -0.029 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.9 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.05 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (21 observations).
Estimated open water season: 207 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-22 (2012) | 2014-05-23 (2014) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-12 (2014) | 2006-11-29 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2014-05-23
EPA Impairment Status
Rossman Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0588-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.18 km)
Graded lakes near Rossman Lake
Rossman Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Rossman Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rossman Lake?
- Rossman Lake in Becker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 272.68 acres.
Is Rossman Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Rossman Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Rossman Lake?
- Rossman Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet and an average depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 272.68 acres.
What fish are in Rossman Lake?
- Fish species found in Rossman Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Rossman Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
When does Rossman Lake thaw?
- Rossman Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 26. Ice typically forms around Nov 19. The open water season is approximately 207 days.
Does Rossman Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Rossman Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (62,517 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Explore Rossman Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
95 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA95 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate