First Silver Lake
First Silver Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Maximum depth: 43 ft. Surface area: 529.36 acres.
- Max depth
- 43 ft
- Area
- 529 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 13
- Open water
- 227 days
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Why First Silver Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For First Silver Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
First Silver Lake is a 529-acre lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 43 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-05-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch First Silver Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for First Silver Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples |
Where to stay near First Silver Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near First Silver 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 First Silver Lake
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 43 ft |
| Surface Area | 529 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 43% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- West Battle Lake (West)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing First Silver 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.047 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.31 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.07 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (23 observations).
Estimated open water season: 227 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-04-02 (2000) | 2013-05-10 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1997-11-16 (1997) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-04-20
Graded lakes near First Silver Lake
First Silver Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about First Silver Lake
What is the water quality grade for First Silver Lake?
- First Silver Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Maximum depth: 43 ft. Surface area: 529.36 acres.
Is First Silver Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. First Silver Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is First Silver Lake?
- First Silver Lake has a maximum depth of 43 feet. The lake covers 529.36 acres.
What fish are in First Silver Lake?
- Fish species found in First Silver Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. First Silver Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
When does First Silver Lake thaw?
- First Silver Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 13. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 227 days.
Are there boat ramps on First Silver Lake?
- First Silver Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include West Battle Lake (West). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore First Silver Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Otter Tail County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Alexandria Lakes area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Detroit Lakes Area area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Otter Tail County area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near First Silver Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA2 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
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