Turtle River Lake
Turtle River Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 1740.29 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.5 ft
- Max depth
- 63 ft
- Area
- 1,740 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 22
- Open water
- 218 days
Next lake in Beltrami County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Turtle River Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 60 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Turtle River Lake is a 1,740-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 63 feet (20-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 20 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Turtle River Lake ranks #70 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 18.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Turtle River Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Turtle River 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 63 ft |
| Average Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,740 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 17.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Turtle River Lake (West)Public
- Turtle River Lake (North)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Turtle River 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
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-10 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CNM | 24.22 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 23.84 | 0.13 lb |
| BKF | 19.99 | — |
| JND | 16.52 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 13.04 | — |
| TRP | 5.88 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
From the 2023-08-10 survey
A temperature-dissolved oxygen profile was collected in three of the deepest basins on Turtle River Lake on August 10, 2023, to evaluate the amount of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee. Based on the profiles, the top of the thermocline (i.e., the location in…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Turtle River Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Turtle RiverFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Turtle River (1740)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Turtle RiverFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Turtle RiverPublic 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 | → Stable | -0.031 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.03 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.3 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (23 observations).
Estimated open water season: 218 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-31 (2012) | 2013-05-14 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-08 (2019) | 2006-12-01 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-03
EPA Impairment Status
Turtle River 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 MN04-0111-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #70 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Turtle River Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Turtle River Lake
What is the water quality grade for Turtle River Lake?
- Turtle River Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 1740.29 acres.
Is Turtle River Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Turtle River Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Turtle River Lake?
- Turtle River Lake has a maximum depth of 63 feet and an average depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 1740.29 acres.
What fish are in Turtle River Lake?
- Fish species found in Turtle River Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, burbot, hybrid sunfish, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, northern pike, northern sunfish, pumpkinseed, redhorse, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Turtle River Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
When does Turtle River Lake thaw?
- Turtle River Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 22. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 218 days.
Are there boat ramps on Turtle River Lake?
- Turtle River Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Turtle River Lake (West), Turtle River Lake (North). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Turtle River Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Beltrami County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
79 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA79 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate