Upper Cormorant Lake
Becker County, Minnesota974 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Upper Cormorant Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- zebra mussel
- 29 ft max depth
- Public access
Upper Cormorant Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 974 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 11, 2025 caught 6.67 walleye per gill net at Upper Cormorant Lake. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Upper Cormorant Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 25 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Upper Cormorant Lake is a 974-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Upper Cormorant Lake ranks #59 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Upper Cormorant Lake covers about 970 acres in Becker County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 26, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Upper Cormorant Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Upper Cormorant Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 26
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Upper Cormorant Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Upper Cormorant Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Upper Cormorant Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Upper Cormorant Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 9.9 µg/L. TSI 51.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 30µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 9.9µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 51 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Upper Cormorant Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Upper Cormorant Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (60°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 34 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Upper Cormorant Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Upper Cormorant Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (59,156 cells/mL) on November 29, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 11, 2025 caught 6.67 walleye per gill net at Upper Cormorant Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Upper Cormorant Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-11 (Targeted Survey).
13 surveys on file · most recent 2025-08-11 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 40.62 | 5–16 in 2025-08-11 | 1.01 lb |
| Bluegill | 30.74 | 3–9 in 2025-08-11 | 0.19 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 17.39 | ||
| Green Sunfish | 11.78 | 4 in 2022-08-22 | 0.16 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 11.53 | 8–13 in 2025-08-11 | 0.61 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Green Sunfish
Yellow Bullhead
From the 2025-08-11 survey
Upper Cormorant Lake is an 856-acre, class 25 lake located in southwestern Becker County. It consists of a main basin and a long, narrow, northern arm with several shallow bays. Two narrow channels, not navigable in low water years, provide access to Rossman and Nelson Lakes to the east and eventually connect to…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Upper Cormorant Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Upper CormorantFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Upper CormorantFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Upper CormorantPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
29 ft
Surface area
974 acres
Shoreline
12.9 mi
Littoral zone
48%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
15 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,352 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Upper Cormorant LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Upper Cormorant Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Upper Cormorant 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 Upper Cormorant Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Upper Cormorant Lake
- → Upper Cormorant Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Upper Cormorant Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Upper Cormorant Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Upper Cormorant Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.9 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Stable-0.05 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 26
Earliest Mar 29, 2016 · Latest May 6, 2022
Typical ice-in
Nov 23
Earliest Nov 10, 1995 · Latest Dec 7, 2017
Most recent ice-out
May 5
2023
20 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Upper Cormorant Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0588-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Cormorant Lake
Where is Upper Cormorant Lake?
- Upper Cormorant Lake is a lake in Becker County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Upper Cormorant Lake?
- Upper Cormorant Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 974 acres.
Is Upper Cormorant Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Upper Cormorant Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Upper Cormorant Lake?
- Upper Cormorant Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 34 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Upper Cormorant Lake?
- Upper Cormorant Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 974 acres.
What fish are in Upper Cormorant Lake?
- Fish species found in Upper Cormorant Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Upper Cormorant Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Upper Cormorant Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 11, 2025 caught 6.67 walleye per gill net at Upper Cormorant Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Upper Cormorant Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Upper Cormorant Lake thaw?
- Upper Cormorant Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 26. Ice typically forms around Nov 23. The open water season is approximately 211 days.
Does Upper Cormorant Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Upper Cormorant Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (59,156 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Upper Cormorant Lake?
- Upper Cormorant Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Upper Cormorant Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Upper Cormorant Lake?
- Upper Cormorant Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Upper Cormorant Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
134 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
MNPCA134 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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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