South Tamarac Lake
South Tamarac Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Becker County
South Tamarac Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, South Tamarac Lake ranks #50 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 6 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near South Tamarac Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near South 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.
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Water Temperature
South Tamarac Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Sep (about 67°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full South Tamarac Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Tamarack Lake (Southeast)Public
- Cotton LakePublic
- Hanson LakePublic
Fishing South Tamarac Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.17 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
South Tamarac 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 MN03-0286-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.67 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #50 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about South Tamarac Lake
What is the water quality grade for South Tamarac Lake?
- South Tamarac Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.7 µg/L.
Is South Tamarac Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. South Tamarac Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of South Tamarac Lake?
- South Tamarac Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is South Tamarac Lake?
- The available depth estimate for South Tamarac Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Are there boat ramps on South Tamarac Lake?
- South Tamarac Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Tamarack Lake (Southeast), Cotton Lake, Hanson Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
31 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA31 samples · 2024–2025
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)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory