Ochotto Lake
Ochotto Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 40.09 acres.
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Typical in August
- 78°F
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 40 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 7
- Open water
- 233 days
Next lake in Stearns County
Why Ochotto 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 Ochotto Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
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.
Ochotto Lake is a 40-acre lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 40 feet (15-foot average). The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Ochotto Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Ochotto Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ochotto Lake in Stearns 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 Ochotto Lake
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Water Temperature
Ochotto Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Jun (about 73°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2023–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ochotto Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Average Depth | 15.2 ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 55% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Ochotto LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ochotto Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2012-07-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 20.83 | 0.95 lb |
| Bluegill | 13.45 | 0.14 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 11.44 | 0.7 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 7.83 | 0.53 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.89 | 1.57 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.57 | 0.13 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2012-07-09 survey
Ochotto Lake is located in Stearns County, near Avon. The lake has a surface area of 40 acres and a maximum depth of 40 feet. The watershed is very small and mostly residential and agriculture. A public access is located in a city park on the south side of the lake. The survey was conducted in July, 2012. Northern…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ochotto Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OchottoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Ochotto (1985)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — OchottoPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.053 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (8 observations).
Estimated open water season: 233 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2007-04-04 (2007) | 2008-04-24 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2006-11-20 (2006) | 2021-11-26 (2021) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-22
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Ochotto Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Avon WwtpAvon · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MN0047325Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Ochotto Lake
Ochotto Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Ochotto Lake
What is the water quality grade for Ochotto Lake?
- Ochotto Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 40.09 acres.
Is Ochotto Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Ochotto Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Ochotto Lake?
- Ochotto Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 14 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Ochotto Lake?
- Ochotto Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet and an average depth of 15.2 feet. The lake covers 40.09 acres.
What fish are in Ochotto Lake?
- Fish species found in Ochotto Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead. Ochotto Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
When does Ochotto Lake thaw?
- Ochotto Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 233 days.
Are there boat ramps on Ochotto Lake?
- Ochotto Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Ochotto Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
57 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA57 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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