Pelican Lake
Pelican Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 3961.78 acres.
- Clarity
- 16.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 3,962 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 19
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Pelican Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 60 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Pelican Lake is a 3,962-acre mesotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 55 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 20 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, Pelican Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Pelican Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Crystal clear, you can see 16.4 ft down. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Pelican Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pelican 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Pelican Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Pelican Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in May (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 120 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pelican Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Pelican Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was low (11,588 cells/mL) on November 29, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 3,962 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 17.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 41% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pelican 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
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-04-15 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge | 2112.20 | 14.02 lb |
| Bluegill | 23.34 | 0.2 lb |
| Walleye | 11.92 | 1.91 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.22 | 0.1 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 4.62 | 0.23 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.14 | 0.19 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.
Muskellunge
Bluegill
Walleye
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-04-15 survey
Fergus Falls Area Fisheries conducted the second and final phase of a mark-recapture sampling effort on the Pelican Chain of Lakes in 2025. Fish were sampled by spring boat electrofishing and assessed for a PIT tag, determining if a fish had been marked in a prior sampling effort or year. Sampling took place for five…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pelican Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PelicanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Pelican (1138)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PelicanFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PelicanPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.057 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.21 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.3 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (11 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-31 (2016) | 2013-05-13 (2013) |
Most recent ice-out: 2016-03-31
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Pelican Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Pelican Lake (completed 1938), built primarily for recreation on the Pelican River; gravity-type dam, 7 ft tall and 140 ft long.
- Surface area
- 3,962 ac
- Normal storage
- 61,950 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 70,250 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 242 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00198 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Pelican Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN56-0786-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 66 lakes in Otter Tail County
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Pelican Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pelican Lake?
- Pelican Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 3961.78 acres.
Is Pelican Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Pelican Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pelican Lake?
- Pelican Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 120 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pelican Lake?
- Pelican Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 3961.78 acres.
What fish are in Pelican Lake?
- Fish species found in Pelican Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Pelican Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
When does Pelican Lake thaw?
- Pelican Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 19.
Does Pelican Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Pelican Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was low (11,588 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Explore Pelican Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Otter Tail County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Alexandria Lakes area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Detroit Lakes Area area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Otter Tail County area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Pelican Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Pelican Lake With Nearby Lakes
Otter Tail County · Grade A
Otter Tail County · Grade A
Otter Tail County · Grade A
Otter Tail County · Grade A
Otter Tail County · Grade C
Otter Tail County · Grade C
Where this data comes from
198 measurements from 4 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 Water
MNPCA198 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate