Otter Tail County Lake Quality

Minnesota, 98 lakes, average grade B (Good)

Otter Tail County has 98 graded lakes, enough that within-county variation matters as much as the county average. Some are deep glacial basins, others are shallow agricultural-watershed waters, and the grade distribution reflects that mix. The county-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.

A meaningful share of Otter Tail's lakes break 50 feet of depth, which matters because deep lakes hold cooler water all summer and resist the resuspended-sediment problems that plague shallow basins. The county's best-graded lake is Crane Lake (A).

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Quick Answers for Otter Tail County

Cleanest lakes in Otter Tail County →Cleanest lakes in Minnesota →Safest swimming lakes in Minnesota →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Crane Lake — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.

Fishing in Otter Tail County

Otter Tail County Fishing Guide

Fish species and best-graded lakes in Otter Tail County

DNR Reports (40)

Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Otter Tail County. browse all reports →

These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).

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Fisheries Lake Survey — Wright
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Wimer
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — West Silent
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — West McDonald
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — West Lost
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — West Leaf
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — West Battle
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Wall
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Walker
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Leek (Trowbridge)
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Tonseth
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Ten Mile
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Tamarac
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Sybil
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Swan
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Stuart
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Star
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Stalker
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Spitzer
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — South Turtle
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Six
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — First Silver
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Sewell
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Scalp
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Rush
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Round
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Round
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Rose
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Prairie
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Pickerel
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Clitherall
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Pelican
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Pebble
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Paul
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Otter Tail River(Red Rive
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Otter Tail
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Otter
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Orwell
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — North Turtle
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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Fisheries Lake Survey — Mule
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder

All Lakes in Otter Tail County

98 lakes · 66 graded, 32 not rated66 graded lakes · 32 not rated, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (32)

#	Lake	Grade	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	ACrane LakeOtter Tail	A	9 ft	15 µg/L	6.4 µg/L	No recent samples	43 ft	✓ Public
2	APelican LakeOtter Tail	A	16.4 ft	15 µg/L	3 µg/L	No recent samples	55 ft	✓ Public
3	ARound LakeOtter Tail	A	11.2 ft	19 µg/L	4.8 µg/L	No recent samples	24 ft	✓ Public
4	ALong LakeOtter Tail	A	12.3 ft	20 µg/L	4.4 µg/L	No recent samples	128 ft	✓ Public
5	ALong LakeOtter Tail	A	12.1 ft	19.5 µg/L	5.3 µg/L	No recent samples	88 ft	✓ Public
6	ALong LakeOtter Tail	A	11.6 ft	17 µg/L	3.9 µg/L	No recent samples	73 ft	✓ Public
7	ADead LakeOtter Tail	A	10.2 ft	20 µg/L	5.8 µg/L	No recent samples	65 ft	✓ Public
8	ADeer LakeOtter Tail	A	12.3 ft	21 µg/L	4.8 µg/L	No recent samples	26 ft	✓ Public
9	ALida LakeOtter Tail	A	14 ft	21 µg/L	5.6 µg/L	No recent samples	58 ft	✓ Public
10	AEagle LakeOtter Tail	A	22.6 ft	5 µg/L	1.8 µg/L	No recent samples	46 ft	✓ Public
11	AStar LakeOtter Tail	A	17 ft	13 µg/L	3.4 µg/L	No recent samples	94 ft	✓ Public
12	AFish LakeOtter Tail	A	18 ft	12 µg/L	2.2 µg/L	No recent samples	69 ft	Carry-in
13	ABig Mcdonald LakeOtter Tail	A	17.4 ft	12 µg/L	3.2 µg/L	No recent samples	46 ft	✓ Public
14	ABass LakeOtter Tail	A	17.4 ft	14 µg/L	2.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
15	ALizzie LakeOtter Tail	A	16.4 ft	13 µg/L	2.7 µg/L	No recent samples	66 ft	✓ Public
16	AEast Loon LakeOtter Tail	A	13.5 ft	13 µg/L	3.9 µg/L	No recent samples	105 ft	✓ Public
17	APickerel LakeOtter Tail	A	14.1 ft	12 µg/L	3.3 µg/L	No recent samples	78 ft	✓ Public
18	ADevil'S LakeOtter Tail	A	14.5 ft	14 µg/L	3.3 µg/L	No recent samples	67 ft	✓ Public
19	ASilver LakeOtter Tail	A	12.1 ft	16 µg/L	4.4 µg/L	No recent samples	43 ft	✓ Public
20	AWest Battle LakeOtter Tail	A	18 ft	8 µg/L	2.7 µg/L	No recent samples	108 ft	✓ Public
21	AClitherall LakeOtter Tail	A	14.1 ft	9 µg/L	4 µg/L	No recent samples	69 ft	✓ Public
22	ASwan LakeOtter Tail	A	12.1 ft	18 µg/L	4 µg/L	No recent samples	44 ft	✓ Public
23	AStuart LakeOtter Tail	A	17.5 ft	12 µg/L	3.7 µg/L	No recent samples	49 ft	✓ Public
24	ABlanche LakeOtter Tail	A	12.5 ft	11 µg/L	4.5 µg/L	No recent samples	64 ft	✓ Public
25	ATrowbridge LakeOtter Tail	A	13.5 ft	16 µg/L	3.5 µg/L	No recent samples	76 ft	✓ Public
26	ALittle Mcdonald LakeOtter Tail	A	26.5 ft	7 µg/L	1.8 µg/L	No recent samples	109 ft	✓ Public
27	AWall LakeOtter Tail	A	8.7 ft	21 µg/L	6.5 µg/L	No recent samples	34 ft	✓ Public
28	AElbow LakeOtter Tail	A	18 ft	12 µg/L	2.5 µg/L	No recent samples	46 ft	✓ Public
29	AEast Battle LakeOtter Tail	A	13.1 ft	12 µg/L	4.2 µg/L	No recent samples	87 ft	✓ Public
30	AScalp LakeOtter Tail	A	20 ft	9 µg/L	1.8 µg/L	No recent samples	90 ft	✓ Public
31	AWest Silent LakeOtter Tail	A	18 ft	8 µg/L	2.7 µg/L	No recent samples	58 ft	✓ Public
32	ATen Mile LakeOtter Tail	A	13.6 ft	24 µg/L	5.2 µg/L	No recent samples	51 ft	✓ Public
33	ASouth Turtle LakeOtter Tail	A	14.1 ft	20 µg/L	3.7 µg/L	No recent samples	35 ft	✓ Public
34	ASybil LakeOtter Tail	A	20 ft	9 µg/L	2.4 µg/L	No recent samples	74 ft	✓ Public
35	ALittle Pelican LakeOtter Tail	A	11.5 ft	17 µg/L	4.3 µg/L	No recent samples	25 ft	✓ Public
36	AOtter Tail LakeOtter Tail	A	12.1 ft	16 µg/L	5.5 µg/L	No recent samples	120 ft	✓ Public
37	AWest Leaf LakeOtter Tail	A	7.5 ft	22 µg/L	6.2 µg/L	No recent samples	55 ft	✓ Public
38	AFranklin LakeOtter Tail	A	13.1 ft	17 µg/L	3.6 µg/L	No recent samples	48 ft	✓ Public
39	AKerbs LakeOtter Tail	A	27.7 ft	7 µg/L	1.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
40	AWimer LakeOtter Tail	A	10.2 ft	18.5 µg/L	5.8 µg/L	No recent samples	58 ft	✓ Public
41	APebble LakeOtter Tail	A	13 ft	16 µg/L	3.9 µg/L	No recent samples	62 ft	✓ Public
42	ASix LakeOtter Tail	A	21 ft	7 µg/L	2.1 µg/L	No recent samples	140 ft	✓ Public
43	ABoedigheimer LakeOtter Tail	A	10.2 ft	18.5 µg/L	5.3 µg/L	No recent samples	26 ft	✓ Public
44	ANelson LakeOtter Tail	A	10 ft	20 µg/L	4.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
45	AEast Silent LakeOtter Tail	A	19.2 ft	9.5 µg/L	2.2 µg/L	No recent samples	48 ft	✓ Public
46	AJewett LakeOtter Tail	A	17.7 ft	15 µg/L	2.9 µg/L	No recent samples	75 ft	✓ Public
47	ALeek LakeOtter Tail	A	13.1 ft	15 µg/L	2.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
48	APaul LakeOtter Tail	A	13.3 ft	15 µg/L	3.6 µg/L	No recent samples	81 ft	✓ Public
49	BRound LakeOtter Tail	B	7.9 ft	21 µg/L	7.1 µg/L	No recent samples	36 ft	✓ Public
50	BPrairie LakeOtter Tail	B	8.9 ft	18 µg/L	7.3 µg/L	No recent samples	22 ft	✓ Public
51	BMarion LakeOtter Tail	B	11 ft	18 µg/L	7.3 µg/L	No recent samples	62 ft	✓ Public
52	BStalker LakeOtter Tail	B	6.6 ft	22 µg/L	7.1 µg/L	No recent samples	95 ft	✓ Public
53	BSpitzer LakeOtter Tail	B	7 ft	24 µg/L	7.1 µg/L	No recent samples	33 ft	✓ Public
54	CLittle Pine LakeOtter Tail	C	9.5 ft	26 µg/L	10.1 µg/L	No recent samples	63 ft	✓ Public
55	CBass LakeOtter Tail	C	8.5 ft	40 µg/L	12.9 µg/L	No recent samples	36 ft	✓ Public
56	CBig Pine LakeOtter Tail	C	8.7 ft	26 µg/L	8 µg/L	No recent samples	76 ft	✓ Public
57	CWalker LakeOtter Tail	C	7.5 ft	26.5 µg/L	8.3 µg/L	No recent samples	29 ft	✓ Public
58	CRush LakeOtter Tail	C	7.5 ft	27 µg/L	9.8 µg/L	No recent samples	68 ft	✓ Public
59	CHoffman LakeOtter Tail	C	9.5 ft	25 µg/L	6.5 µg/L	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
60	CEast Leaf LakeOtter Tail	C	7.9 ft	23 µg/L	9.8 µg/L	No recent samples	43 ft	✓ Public
61	CTamarac LakeOtter Tail	C	6.2 ft	33 µg/L	10.7 µg/L	No recent samples	11 ft	✓ Public
62	CBuchanan LakeOtter Tail	C	5.5 ft	22 µg/L	12.3 µg/L	No recent samples	42 ft	✓ Public
63	DLong LakeOtter Tail	D	3 ft	35 µg/L	16 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
64	DNorth Turtle LakeOtter Tail	D	4 ft	54.5 µg/L	22 µg/L	No recent samples	19 ft	✓ Public
65	DBerger LakeOtter Tail	D	5 ft	40 µg/L	16.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
66	FAlice LakeOtter Tail	F	0.8 ft	494 µg/L	254 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRMud LakeOtter Tail	NR	1.6 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRMud LakeOtter Tail	NR	1.3 ft	87 µg/L	52.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
	NRRound LakeOtter Tail	NR	4.3 ft	7 µg/L	14.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRUnnamed LakeOtter Tail	NR	1.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
	NRUnnamed LakeOtter Tail	NR	4.9 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRUnnamed LakeOtter Tail	NR	15.1 ft	9 µg/L	2.6 µg/L	No recent samples	95 ft	✓ Public
	NRUnnamed LakeOtter Tail	NR	3.9 ft	25 µg/L	4.2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
	NRTonseth LakeOtter Tail	NR	10 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	27 ft	✓ Public
	NROtter LakeOtter Tail	NR	18 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	64 ft	✓ Public
	NRClear LakeOtter Tail	NR	7 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	29 ft	✓ Public
	NRHook LakeOtter Tail	NR	10.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
	NRPeterson LakeOtter Tail	NR	5.9 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	69 ft	✓ Public
	NREast Lost LakeOtter Tail	NR	12 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	26 ft	✓ Public
	NRSewell LakeOtter Tail	NR	5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	52 ft	✓ Public
	NRCrystal LakeOtter Tail	NR	10.2 ft	20 µg/L	4.8 µg/L	No recent samples	55 ft	✓ Public
	NRAlice LakeOtter Tail	NR	14 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	39 ft	Carry-in
	NREthel LakeOtter Tail	NR	14.6 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	64 ft	✓ Public
	NRRose LakeOtter Tail	NR	16 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	137 ft	✓ Public
	NRBelmont LakeOtter Tail	NR	14 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	34 ft	Carry-in
	NROtter Tail River LakeOtter Tail	NR	11.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	55 ft	✓ Public
	NRMule LakeOtter Tail	NR	17.1 ft	8 µg/L	1.3 µg/L	No recent samples	31 ft	✓ Public
	NROrwell LakeOtter Tail	NR	4.1 ft	54 µg/L	9.7 µg/L	No recent samples	25 ft	✓ Public
	NRFiske LakeOtter Tail	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	26 ft	✓ Public
	NRIndian LakeOtter Tail	NR	8.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	37 ft	Carry-in
	NRWest Lost LakeOtter Tail	NR	7.2 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	✓ Public
	NRWright LakeOtter Tail	NR	13.7 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	32 ft	✓ Public
	NRHoot LakeOtter Tail	NR	11.7 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
	NRIverson LakeOtter Tail	NR	13.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	18 ft	Carry-in
	NRGraham LakeOtter Tail	NR	8.4 ft	25.5 µg/L	3.7 µg/L	No recent samples	34 ft	✓ Public
	NRMason LakeOtter Tail	NR	3 ft	21 µg/L	16.9 µg/L	No recent samples	108 ft	✓ Public
	NRWest Mcdonald LakeOtter Tail	NR	16.2 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	62 ft	✓ Public
	NRFirst Silver LakeOtter Tail	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	43 ft	✓ Public

NR = not rated: the monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar for a grade. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.

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Other Counties in Minnesota

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2 lakes · Avg grade A

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16 lakes · Avg grade A

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76 lakes · Avg grade A

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130 lakes · Avg grade A

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139 lakes · Avg grade A

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See how Otter Tail County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 39 states and 2 Canadian provinces.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.