Upper Red Lake: West-Central
Upper Red Lake: West-Central in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 41.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 119294.35 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 119,294 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 29
- Open water
- 207 days
Next lake in Beltrami County
Upper Red Lake: West-Central is a 119,294-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 15 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and burbot. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Upper Red Lake: West-Central ranks #66 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Upper Red Lake: West-Central water quality
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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)
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 41.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 13.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 41.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Upper Red Lake: West-Central
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Water Temperature
Upper Red Lake: West-Central typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Feb (about 32°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 149 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Upper Red Lake: West-Central — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (337,287 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 |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Average Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 119,294 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 59.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 40% |
| Public Access | No |
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 Upper Red Lake: West-Central
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
34 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-01 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 30.75 | 1.07 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 22.12 | 0.26 lb |
| GOE | 1.91 | 0.83 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.73 | 0.79 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.57 | 3.33 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 1.24 | 1.2 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.
Walleye
Yellow Perch
GOE
Black Crappie
From the 2025-07-01 survey
Upper Red Lake is a 120,000 acre lake, 60% (72,000 acres) of which is under the jurisdiction of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians (Red Lake Band). The remaining 40% (48,000 acres) falls under the jurisdiction of the State of Minnesota. Walleye, the primary species sought by anglers, is managed under a cooperative…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Upper Red Lake: West-Central. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Red (Upper Red)Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Red (Upper Red)Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.03 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.34 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.21 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (23 observations).
Estimated open water season: 207 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-27 (2012) | 2013-05-15 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-12 (2019) | 2016-12-16 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-29
County Ranking
Ranked #66 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Red Lake: West-Central
What is the water quality grade for Upper Red Lake: West-Central?
- Upper Red Lake: West-Central in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 41.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 119294.35 acres.
Is Upper Red Lake: West-Central safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Upper Red Lake: West-Central has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 13.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Upper Red Lake: West-Central?
- Upper Red Lake: West-Central typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 149 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Upper Red Lake: West-Central?
- Upper Red Lake: West-Central has a maximum depth of 15 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 119294.35 acres.
What fish are in Upper Red Lake: West-Central?
- Fish species found in Upper Red Lake: West-Central include black crappie, bluegill, burbot, freshwater drum, goldeye, lake sturgeon, lake whitefish, northern pike, quillback, redhorse, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Upper Red Lake: West-Central is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
When does Upper Red Lake: West-Central thaw?
- Upper Red Lake: West-Central typically has ice-out around Apr 29. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 207 days.
Does Upper Red Lake: West-Central have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Upper Red Lake: West-Central (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (337,287 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Explore Upper Red Lake: West-Central across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
261 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Red Lake DNR
REDLAKE_WQX261 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate