Buchanan Lake vs West Leaf Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
West 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
West Leaf Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Buchanan Lake | West Leaf Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | C (Fair) | B (Good) |
| Water Clarity | 5.2 ft | 7.5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | 22 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 963.59 acres | 700 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 8 | 18 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | mesotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
West Leaf Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade B versus Buchanan Lake's Grade C. Water clarity: 7.5 ft vs 5.2 ft. For fishing diversity, West Leaf Lake also leads with 18 species.