Tamarac Lake
Tamarac Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 1177.84 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 1,178 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 24
- Open water
- 214 days
Next lake in Becker County
Tamarac Lake is a 1,178-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Tamarac Lake ranks #41 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-08-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Tamarac Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near 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
Tamarac Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 74°F) and coldest in May (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 38 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,178 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 73% |
| Public Access | Yes |
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 Tamarac 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BNS | 217.31 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 82.96 | — |
| Fathead Minnow | 66.65 | — |
| MMS | 49.09 | — |
| BKF | 38.26 | — |
| Bluegill | 27.16 | 0.2 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.
Bluegill
From the 2021-06-21 survey
Floyd (a.k.a., Big Floyd) Lake is a 1,212-acre lake located in Becker County two miles north of the city of Detroit Lakes. Floyd Lake's shoreline is heavily developed, and the lake receives a high amount of angling pressure and recreational use. Floyd Lake consists of two basins, the shallow larger main basin and the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Tamarac Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FloydFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FloydFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FloydPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.244 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.36 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.87 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (33 observations).
Estimated open water season: 214 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-24 (2012) | 2013-05-12 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-07 (2019) | 2009-12-05 (2009) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-07
EPA Impairment Status
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 MN03-0387-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.59 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #41 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Tamarac Lake
What is the water quality grade for Tamarac Lake?
- Tamarac Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 1177.84 acres.
Is Tamarac Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Tamarac 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.
What is the water temperature of Tamarac Lake?
- Tamarac Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 38 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Tamarac Lake?
- Tamarac Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 1177.84 acres.
What fish are in Tamarac Lake?
- Fish species found in Tamarac Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, sunfish, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Tamarac Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
When does Tamarac Lake thaw?
- Tamarac Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 24. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 214 days.
Explore Tamarac Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA24 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 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
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