Is Buchanan Lake Safe for Swimming?
Buchanan Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has nutrient and algae measurements on record from state and federal monitoring. A water-quality reading is not a swimming clearance. The state water agency and county health departments post current advisories; check them before you swim.. Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 22 μg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.3 μg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Location | Otter Tail County, Minnesota |
How does Buchanan Lake compare?
With an overall water-quality readings of —, Buchanan Lake matches or beats the Minnesota state average. It ranks #62 of 66 lakes in Otter Tail County by water quality score.
Water clarity (Secchi depth) sits at 5.5 feet. That falls into moderate clarity — typical for lakes with some nutrient enrichment. Algae levels (chlorophyll-a) measure 12.3 µg/L — moderate; acceptable for swimming on most days, but worth checking advisories.
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