Whitefish Lake
Whitefish Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 128.12 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 65°F
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 128 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Beltrami County
Whitefish Lake is a 128-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 12 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, Whitefish Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-09. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Whitefish Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Whitefish 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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Water Temperature
Whitefish Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 65°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 45 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Whitefish Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 128 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 41% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Whitefish LakePublic
- Little Buzzle LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Whitefish Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Whitefish 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 MN04-0295-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.84 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Whitefish Lake
What is the water quality grade for Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 128.12 acres.
Is Whitefish Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Whitefish Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August, from 45 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 128.12 acres.
What fish are in Whitefish Lake?
- Fish species found in Whitefish Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Whitefish Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Whitefish Lake, Little Buzzle Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Whitefish Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
17 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA17 samples · 2025
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory