Blanche Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota1,296 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Blanche Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 64 ft max depth
- Public access
Blanche Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 64 ft. Surface area: 1295.92 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 20, 2015 caught 3.22 walleye per gill net at Blanche Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–20 inches. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Blanche Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 60 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Blanche Lake is a 1,296-acre mesotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 64 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, Blanche Lake ranks #24 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-27. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Blanche Lake covers about 1,300 acres in Otter Tail County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 20, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Blanche Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Blanche Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing4 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 20
- Deep water64 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,296 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Blanche Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Blanche Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Blanche Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Blanche Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.5 µg/L. TSI 42.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 12.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 11µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 42 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Blanche Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Blanche Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (60°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 108 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Blanche Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Blanche Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was low (11,912 cells/mL) on November 15, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 20, 2015 caught 3.22 walleye per gill net at Blanche Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–20 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Blanche Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-12 (Targeted Survey).
7 surveys on file · most recent 2025-06-12 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 29.05 | 1–9 in 2025-06-12 | 0.16 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.98 | 6–15 in 2015-07-20 | 0.63 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.20 | 5–8 in 2025-06-12 | 0.25 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.63 | 10–24 in 2015-07-20 | 0.82 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 2.89 | 8–13 in 2015-07-20 | 0.76 lb |
| Walleye | 2.23 | 8–20 in 2015-07-20 | 1.31 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Pumpkinseed
Northern Pike
From the 2025-06-12 survey
Blanche Lake is a 1,228-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in central Otter Tail County approximately four miles northeast of Battle Lake, MN. An inlet from Annie Battle Lake is located on the southwest shoreline and an outlet to Otter Tail Lake is located on the north shoreline. The immediate…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Blanche Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BlancheFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Blanche (1176)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BlancheFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BlanchePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
64 ft
Surface area
1,296 acres
Shoreline
5.6 mi
Littoral zone
77%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
182 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,316 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Blanche LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Blanche Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Blanche Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Blanche Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow Blanche Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Blanche Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.41 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.23 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 20
Earliest Mar 15, 2016 · Latest May 9, 2013
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 20, 2006 · Latest Dec 7, 2017
Most recent ice-out
Apr 28
2023
26 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Blanche Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Blanche Lake (completed 1938), built primarily for recreation on the Blanche Creek; gravity-type dam, 7 ft tall and 83 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,352 ac
- Normal storage
- 20,400 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 24,500 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 160 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00214 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Blanche Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN56-0240-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Blanche Lake
Where is Blanche Lake?
- Blanche Lake is a lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Blanche Lake?
- Blanche Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 64 ft. Surface area: 1295.92 acres.
Is Blanche Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Blanche Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Blanche Lake?
- Blanche Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 108 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Blanche Lake?
- Blanche Lake has a maximum depth of 64 feet. The lake covers 1295.92 acres.
What fish are in Blanche Lake?
- Fish species found in Blanche Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed. Blanche Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Blanche Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 20, 2015 caught 3.22 walleye per gill net at Blanche Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–20 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Blanche Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Blanche Lake thaw?
- Blanche Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 225 days.
Does Blanche Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Blanche Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was low (11,912 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Blanche Lake?
- Blanche Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Blanche Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Blanche Lake?
- Blanche Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Blanche Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
188 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA188 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate