Paul Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota346 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Paul Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- zebra mussel
- 81 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Paul Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 31, 2020 caught 8.33 walleye per gill net at Paul Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 12–29 inches. DNR survey details →
Paul Lake is a 346-acre mesotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 81 feet. 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 1 public boat landing. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Paul Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.3 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing12 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 18
- Deep water81 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Paul Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Paul 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.
Water quality measurements for Paul Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Paul Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.3 ft. Phosphorus 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.6 µg/L. TSI 42.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 13.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 15µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 3.6µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 42 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Paul Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Paul Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (75°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 31, 2020 caught 8.33 walleye per gill net at Paul Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 12–29 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Paul Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-08-31 (Targeted Survey).
6 surveys on file · most recent 2020-08-31 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Bullhead | 25.36 | 7–13 in 2020-08-31 | 0.55 lb |
| Bluegill | 15.53 | 3–8 in 2020-08-31 | 0.18 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.26 | 13–33 in 2020-08-31 | 1.37 lb |
| Walleye | 3.76 | 12–29 in 2020-08-31 | 2.15 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.62 | 3–7 in 2020-08-31 | 0.16 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 2.56 | 8–14 in 2020-08-31 | 0.64 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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 Bullhead
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
Lake Details
Max depth
81 ft
Surface area
346 acres
Shoreline
3.1 mi
Littoral zone
31%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
3 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,345 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Paul LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Paul Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.66 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.22 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 18
Earliest Mar 31, 2016 · Latest May 9, 1979
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 19, 1996 · Latest Jan 4, 2024
Most recent ice-out
Apr 23
2025
87 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN56-0335-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Paul Lake
Where is Paul Lake?
- Paul 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 Paul Lake?
- Paul Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Paul Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Paul Lake?
- Paul Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Paul Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 31, 2020 caught 8.33 walleye per gill net at Paul Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 12–29 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Paul Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Paul Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Paul Lake?
- Paul 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.
Explore Paul Lake across LakeQuality
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Top lakes and where to stay in the Otter Tail County area
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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