Where is North Turtle Lake?

North Turtle 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.

How deep is North Turtle Lake?

North Turtle Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 1541 acres.

Are there boat ramps on North Turtle Lake?

North Turtle Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include North Turtle Lake. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at North Turtle Lake?

North Turtle 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.

North Turtle Lake

Otter Tail County, Minnesota1,541 acresView map Directions

No nutrient or algae sampling on record from Minnesota PCA for this lake.

Max depth

19 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

1,541 acres

Surface area

Shoreline

19.3 mi

Measured length

Impaired · Mercury
19 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

North Turtle Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 1541 acres.

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North Turtle Lake is a 1,541-acre lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What North Turtle Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Boat launch1 documented ramp
Big water1,541 acres

Swimming conditions

No reading

Recreation use not supported

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Turtle Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether North Turtle 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.

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Water quality measurements for North Turtle Lake

These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for North Turtle Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

No clarity data. TSI undefined.

Ask about North Turtle Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Lake Details

Max depth

19 ft

Surface area

1,541 acres

Shoreline

19.3 mi

Public access

Yes

Listed by Minnesota PCA

The depth above comes from a bathymetric survey of this lake, not from a regional estimate.

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

North Turtle LakePublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

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Stays near North Turtle Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Turtle 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.

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Fishing North Turtle Lake

→ North Turtle Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

EPA Impairment Status

North Turtle Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).

Causes of impairment

MercuryNutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN56-0379-00 · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County

North Turtle Lake4 ft clear · Eutrophic0.8 miView →South Turtle Lake14.1 ft clear · Mesotrophic1.8 miView →Horseshoe Lake2.1 miView →Crooked Lake2.2 miView →Third Silver Lake2.4 miView →Fiske Lake—View →

Frequently asked questions about North Turtle Lake

Where is North Turtle Lake?: North Turtle 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 North Turtle Lake?: North Turtle Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 1541 acres.
Is North Turtle Lake safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Turtle Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is North Turtle Lake?: North Turtle Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 1541 acres.
Are there boat ramps on North Turtle Lake?: North Turtle Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include North Turtle Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at North Turtle Lake?: North Turtle 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.