Wine Lake
Wine Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 61 ft. Surface area: 414.51 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 61 ft
- Area
- 415 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 19
- Open water
- 219 days
Next lake in Becker County
Wine Lake is a 415-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 61 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Wine Lake ranks #70 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-19. 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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 32 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Wine Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wine 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.
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Water Temperature
Wine Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Sep (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 61 ft |
| Surface Area | 415 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 37% |
| Public Access | Yes |
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 Wine 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
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| MMS | 168.13 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 109.02 | — |
| BKF | 65.54 | — |
| Bluegill | 25.98 | 0.17 lb |
| BCS | 8.50 | — |
| Northern Pike | 8.25 | 1.33 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.
Bluegill
Northern Pike
From the 2021-06-28 survey
Long Lake is a 415-acre lake located in Becker County on the western city limits of Detroit Lakes. Long Lake possesses a heavily developed shoreline and receives a high level of recreational use and angling pressure, particularly during the open water season. Zebra mussels were discovered in the lake in 2020. A…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wine Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LongFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LongFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LongPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.02 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (145 observations).
Estimated open water season: 219 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-21 (2024) | 2013-05-11 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-04 (1991) | 2004-12-14 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-14
EPA Impairment Status
Wine 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 MN03-0398-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Wine Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Forest Hills Golf & Rv Resort WwtpDetroit Lakes · 1.1 mi away · NPDES MN0056685Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #70 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Wine Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Wine Lake
What is the water quality grade for Wine Lake?
- Wine Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 61 ft. Surface area: 414.51 acres.
Is Wine Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Wine Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Wine Lake?
- Wine Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Wine Lake?
- Wine Lake has a maximum depth of 61 feet. The lake covers 414.51 acres.
What fish are in Wine Lake?
- Fish species found in Wine Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Wine Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
When does Wine Lake thaw?
- Wine Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 19. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 219 days.
Explore Wine Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Detroit Lakes Area area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Wine Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA24 samples · 2023
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate