Buchanan Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota964 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Buchanan Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 42 ft max depth
- Public access
Buchanan Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 963.59 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 7, 2014 caught 2.67 walleye per gill net at Buchanan Lake. DNR survey details →
Buchanan Lake is a 964-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 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, Buchanan Lake ranks #62 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-24. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Buchanan Lake covers about 960 acres in Otter Tail County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 10, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Buchanan Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Buchanan Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing8 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 10
- Deep water42 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate 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. Buchanan Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Buchanan 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 Buchanan Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Buchanan Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Phosphorus 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 12.3 µg/L. TSI 52.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 22µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 12.3µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 52 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Buchanan Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Buchanan Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 69°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (69°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 56 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Buchanan Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 7, 2014 caught 2.67 walleye per gill net at Buchanan Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Buchanan Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. 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: 2014-07-07 (Standard Survey).
7 surveys on file · most recent 2014-07-07 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 46.15 | 3–8 in 2014-07-07 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 15.06 | 7–13 in 2014-07-07 | 0.82 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 7.00 | 5–8 in 2014-07-07 | 0.31 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.61 | 4–10 in 2014-07-07 | 0.13 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.60 | 3–8 in 2014-07-07 | 0.21 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.23 | 13–27 in 2014-07-07 | 1.71 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
Yellow Bullhead
Hybrid Sunfish
Yellow Perch
From the 2014-07-07 survey
Buchanan Lake is a 929-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in east-central Otter Tail County approximately two miles north of Ottertail, MN. The lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet; however, 90% of the lake is less than 15 feet in depth. The secchi disc reading in this assessment was 11.8 feet. Previous…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Buchanan Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BuchananFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Buchanan (1128)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BuchananFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BuchananPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
42 ft
Surface area
964 acres
Shoreline
7.9 mi
Littoral zone
87%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
9 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,309 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Buchanan 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 Buchanan Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Buchanan 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 Buchanan Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Buchanan 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 readings over time
3 seasons of samples on record (2023–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving3 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+1.5 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-4.1 µg/L/yr2 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 10
Earliest Mar 30, 2016 · Latest Apr 28, 2023
Most recent ice-out
Apr 28
2023
3 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Buchanan 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 MN56-0209-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Buchanan Lake
Where is Buchanan Lake?
- Buchanan 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 Buchanan Lake?
- Buchanan Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 963.59 acres.
Is Buchanan Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Buchanan 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 Buchanan Lake?
- Buchanan Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in September, from 56 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Buchanan Lake?
- Buchanan Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 963.59 acres.
What fish are in Buchanan Lake?
- Fish species found in Buchanan Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Buchanan Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Buchanan Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 7, 2014 caught 2.67 walleye per gill net at Buchanan Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Buchanan Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Buchanan Lake thaw?
- Buchanan Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 10.
Are there boat ramps on Buchanan Lake?
- Buchanan Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Buchanan Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Buchanan Lake?
- Buchanan 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 Buchanan Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
60 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA60 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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