Paul Lake
Paul Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 81 ft. Surface area: 346.49 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 81 ft
- Area
- 346 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
- Open water
- 227 days
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Paul Lake is a 346-acre mesotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 81 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, Paul Lake ranks #48 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Paul Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Paul 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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Water Temperature
Paul Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 35 field readings (2016–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Paul Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 81 ft |
| Surface Area | 346 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 31% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Paul LakePublic
- Little McDonald Lake (South)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Paul 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-08-31 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Bass | 25.36 | 0.55 lb |
| Bluegill | 15.53 | 0.18 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.26 | 1.37 lb |
| Walleye | 3.76 | 2.15 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.62 | 0.16 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 2.56 | 0.64 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.
Yellow Bass
Bluegill
Northern Pike
Walleye
From the 2020-08-31 survey
Paul Lake is a 319-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in north-central Otter Tail County approximately six miles west of Perham, MN. Paul Lake is located within the Otter Tail River Watershed. The immediate watershed is composed of hardwood forest interspersed with agricultural land and marshes. The…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Paul Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PaulFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Paul (1174)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PaulFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PaulPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.331 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.66 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.22 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (87 observations).
Estimated open water season: 227 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-31 (2016) | 1979-05-09 (1979) |
| Ice-In | 1996-11-19 (1996) | 2024-01-04 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-23
EPA Impairment Status
Paul Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN56-0335-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #48 of 66 lakes in Otter Tail County
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Paul Lake
What is the water quality grade for Paul Lake?
- Paul Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 81 ft. Surface area: 346.49 acres.
Is Paul Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Paul Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Paul Lake?
- Paul Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 35 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Paul Lake?
- Paul Lake has a maximum depth of 81 feet. The lake covers 346.49 acres.
What fish are in Paul Lake?
- Fish species found in Paul Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Paul Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
When does Paul Lake thaw?
- Paul Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 227 days.
Are there boat ramps on Paul Lake?
- Paul Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Paul Lake, Little McDonald Lake (South). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Paul Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Top lakes and where to stay in the Otter Tail County area
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA23 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate