White Earth Lake
Becker County, Minnesota1,989 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for White Earth Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- zebra mussel
- 120 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
White Earth Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 120 ft. Surface area: 1988.9 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 9, 2023 caught 1.24 walleye per hour of electrofishing at White Earth Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–7 inches. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of White Earth Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 110 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
White Earth Lake is a 1,989-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 120 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, White Earth Lake ranks #32 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-07-06. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
White Earth Lake covers about 2,000 acres in Becker County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 21, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around White Earth Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What White Earth Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water15 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing17 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 21
- Deep water120 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,989 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyBacteria tested: low
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.
Based on E. coli testing, White Earth Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 9 samples across 2 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Minnesota’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Whether White Earth 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 White Earth Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for White Earth Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down. Phosphorus 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.4 µg/L. TSI 37.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 15ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 7µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.4µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 37 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about White Earth Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
White Earth Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Jun (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (59°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 162 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full White Earth Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 9, 2023 caught 1.24 walleye per hour of electrofishing at White Earth Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–7 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows White Earth Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-23 (Targeted Survey).
15 surveys on file · most recent 2025-09-23 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 16.75 | ||
| Walleye | 11.47 | 6–7 in 2025-09-23 | 1.59 lb |
| Bluegill | 10.61 | 3–8 in 2023-07-17 | 0.22 lb |
| Rock Bass | 10.48 | 2–10 in 2023-07-17 | 0.38 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 8.30 | 3–8 in 2023-07-17 | 0.33 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.
Walleye
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Hybrid Sunfish
From the 2025-09-23 survey
On September 23, 2025, DNR Fisheries used night electrofishing to sample young-of-year Walleyes in White Earth Lake. This sampling has been done annually for the past 15 years and is used to help determine the success of natural reproduction within White Earth Lake. During the 2025 assessment, 18 young-of-year…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for White Earth Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — White EarthFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — White Earth (1001)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — White EarthFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — White EarthPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
120 ft
Surface area
1,989 acres
Shoreline
13.7 mi
Littoral zone
30%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
103 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,440 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- White Earth 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 White Earth Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near White Earth 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 White Earth Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow White Earth Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing White Earth Lake
- → White Earth Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → White Earth Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → White Earth Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from White Earth 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: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 21
Earliest Apr 7, 2017 · Latest May 7, 2008
Typical ice-in
Nov 30
Earliest Nov 14, 2002 · Latest Dec 19, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Apr 22
2025
27 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
White Earth Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the White Earth Lake (completed 1937), built primarily for recreation on the White Earth River; gravity-type dam, 8 ft tall and 20 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,990 ac
- Normal storage
- 51,875 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 56,025 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 106 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR-EWR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN01000 · Operator website
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about White Earth Lake
Where is White Earth Lake?
- White Earth 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 White Earth Lake?
- White Earth Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 120 ft. Surface area: 1988.9 acres.
Is White Earth Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, White Earth Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 9 samples across 2 seasons. That is a historical summary of past bacteria testing, not a current reading and not a swimming clearance. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so whether White Earth Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for Minnesota's water agency and the county health department; check their current beach advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of White Earth Lake?
- White Earth Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September, from 162 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is White Earth Lake?
- White Earth Lake has a maximum depth of 120 feet. The lake covers 1988.9 acres.
What fish are in White Earth Lake?
- Fish species found in White Earth Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. White Earth Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at White Earth Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 9, 2023 caught 1.24 walleye per hour of electrofishing at White Earth Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–7 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows White Earth Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does White Earth Lake thaw?
- White Earth Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 21. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 223 days.
Are there boat ramps on White Earth Lake?
- White Earth Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include White Earth Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at White Earth Lake?
- White Earth 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 White Earth Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Compare White Earth Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
227 measurements from 4 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
MNPCA172 samples · 2020–2025 - Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX55 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
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