Dead Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota7,546 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Dead Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 65 ft max depth
- Public access
Dead Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 65 ft. Surface area: 7545.66 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 19, 2024 caught 3.83 walleye per gill net at Dead Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–26 inches. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Dead Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 60 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Dead Lake is a 7,546-acre mesotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 65 feet (10-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, Dead Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-04. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
At about 7,500 acres, Dead Lake is large enough that where you stay decides which shore you see most of. It has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. The median ice-out date is April 14, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Dead Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Dead Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10.2 ft of visibility
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing18 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 14
- Deep water65 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water7,546 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. Dead Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Dead 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 Dead Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Dead 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 10.2 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.8 µg/L. TSI 46.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10.2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 20µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 5.8µg/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. | 46 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Dead Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Dead Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (61°F) to its warmest (79°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dead Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Dead Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was low (7,047 cells/mL) on November 29, 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 August 19, 2024 caught 3.83 walleye per gill net at Dead Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–26 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Dead Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-19 (Standard Survey).
14 surveys on file · most recent 2024-08-19 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 34.97 | ||
| Bluegill | 19.71 | 3–9 in 2024-08-19 | 0.19 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 8.88 | 0.1 lb | |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.52 | 3–7 in 2024-08-19 | 0.21 lb |
| Walleye | 5.48 | 8–26 in 2024-08-19 | 2.04 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
Pumpkinseed
Walleye
From the 2024-08-19 survey
Dead Lake is a 7,901-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in central Otter Tail County approximately three miles south of Dent, MN. It is the second largest lake in Otter Tail County. The Dead River outlet is located along the southeast shoreline and flows south into Walker and Otter Tail Lakes. The…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Dead Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DeadFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — DeadFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — DeadPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
65 ft
Average depth
9.5 ft
Surface area
7,546 acres
Shoreline
41 mi
Littoral zone
87%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
137 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,316 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Dead Lake Wildlife Management AreaPublic
- Dead Lake (North)Public
- Dead Lake (Southeast)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Dead Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dead 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 Dead 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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Dead Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Dead 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: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.81 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.68 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 14
Earliest Mar 31, 2016 · Latest May 2, 2008
Most recent ice-out
Mar 31
2016
8 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Dead 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 MN56-0383-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Dead Lake
Where is Dead Lake?
- Dead 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 Dead Lake?
- Dead Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 65 ft. Surface area: 7545.66 acres.
Is Dead Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Dead 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 Dead Lake?
- Dead Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September, from 25 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Dead Lake?
- Dead Lake has a maximum depth of 65 feet and an average depth of 9.5 feet. The lake covers 7545.66 acres.
What fish are in Dead Lake?
- Fish species found in Dead Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Dead Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Dead Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 19, 2024 caught 3.83 walleye per gill net at Dead Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–26 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Dead Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Dead Lake thaw?
- Dead Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 14.
Does Dead Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Dead Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was low (7,047 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Dead Lake?
- Dead Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Dead Lake Wildlife Management Area, Dead Lake (North), Dead Lake (Southeast). Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Dead Lake?
- Dead Lake has 3 documented boat landings 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 Dead Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
399 measurements from 5 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
MNPCA399 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 (5)
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