Schram Lake
Schram Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Mean depth
- ~29 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Beltrami County
Schram Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 29 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Schram Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-10-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Schram 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Schram Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Schram Lake in Beltrami 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 Schram 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 →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Schram Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (524,807 cells/mL) on July 19, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~29 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Schram Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- WanakiPublic
- Knutson DamPublic
Fishing Schram Lake
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Schram Lake
What is the water quality grade for Schram Lake?
- Schram Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L.
Is Schram Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Schram Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Schram Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Schram Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 29 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Does Schram Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Schram Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (524,807 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Schram Lake?
- Schram Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Wanaki, Knutson Dam. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Schram Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Beltrami County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Schram Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
75 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX75 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory