Is Orwell Lake Safe for Swimming?
Orwell Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall Grade | NR (Not rated) |
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.1 ft |
| Phosphorus | 54 μg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.7 μg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Location | Otter Tail County, Minnesota |
How does Orwell Lake compare?
Orwell Lake is not rated for water quality — it does not have enough recent summer sampling for a letter grade, so it is not compared with the Minnesota state average.
Water clarity (Secchi depth) sits at 4.1 feet. That falls into moderate clarity — typical for lakes with some nutrient enrichment. Algae levels (chlorophyll-a) measure 9.7 µg/L — moderate; acceptable for swimming on most days, but worth checking advisories.
Watch Orwell Lake water quality
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