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LakeQuality

Ottertrack Lake

NR
Not yet rated
20 ft clear · Oligotrophic · 113 acres
Limited DataOligotrophic

Ottertrack Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 70 ft. Surface area: 113.05 acres.

Clarity
20 ft
Max depth
70 ft
Area
113 acres
Trend
Stable
Public access
No

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Why Ottertrack 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 Ottertrack 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.

Ottertrack Lake is a 113-acre lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 70 feet. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-07-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Not rated

Limited data

Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake

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Water quality measurements for Ottertrack Lake

These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.

Crystal clear, you can see 20 ft down. Trophic State Index: 34.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)20 ftNot graded
PhosphorusNo recent samples
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No recent samples
Trophic State Index (TSI)34Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Where to stay near Ottertrack Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ottertrack Lake in Lake 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 Ottertrack Lake

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Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth70 ft
Surface Area113 acres
Shoreline Length3.2 mi
Littoral Zone22%
Public AccessNo

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area
941 sq mi
Elevation
1,385 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Fishing Ottertrack Lake

Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Stable+0.097 m/yr5
See year-by-year chart →

EPA Impairment Status

Ottertrack Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Mercury

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0211-00 · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Lake County

Frequently asked questions about Ottertrack Lake

What is the water quality grade for Ottertrack Lake?

Ottertrack Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 70 ft. Surface area: 113.05 acres.

Is Ottertrack Lake safe to swim in?

Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Ottertrack 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 Ottertrack Lake?

Ottertrack Lake has a maximum depth of 70 feet. The lake covers 113.05 acres.

Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota

Where this data comes from

15 measurements from 7 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 WaterMNPCA15 samples · 2020–2025

Analytical methods

  • Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (7)

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

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)

Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder