Alice Lake
Otter Tail County, MinnesotaLimited DataHypereutrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric Alice Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 87 and persistent algal pressure put it in the bottom tier.
Hypereutrophic conditions mean the lake is operating at the upper end of the productivity scale, with all the bloom risk that implies. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. At 15 acres, Alice Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Alice Lake ranks 97 of 97 in Otter Tail County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Alice Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Alice Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-08-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 0.5 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 87.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 87 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Public Access | No |
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.02 m/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #97 of 97 lakes in Otter Tail County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Alice Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Alice Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Alice Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Central (Wright) (completed 1921), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Ottertail River; gravity-type dam, 26 ft tall and 183 ft long.
- Surface area
- 15 ac
- Normal storage
- 400 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 400 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,250 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Otter Tail Power Company
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00195 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.95 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Alice Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN56-0867-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2023-08-19
Monitoring stations: 1