Buchanan Lake vs East Leaf Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
East Leaf Lake has a higher water quality grade (B, Good) than Buchanan Lake (C, Fair). Both are in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
C
Buchanan Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Murky, only visible to about 5.2 ft.
B
East Leaf Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.9 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Buchanan Lake | East Leaf Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | C (Fair) | B (Good) |
| Water Clarity | 5.2 ft | 7.9 ft |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | 23 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft | 43 ft |
| Surface Area | 963.59 acres | 404.14 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 8 | 19 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | mesotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
East Leaf Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade B versus Buchanan Lake's Grade C. Water clarity: 7.9 ft vs 5.2 ft. For fishing diversity, East Leaf Lake also leads with 19 species.