Peterson Lake
Peterson Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 69 ft. Surface area: 2539.81 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.9 ft
- Typical in July
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 69 ft
- Area
- 2,540 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 14
- Open water
- 233 days
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Why Peterson 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 Peterson Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.
Peterson Lake is a 2,540-acre lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 69 feet. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-07-27. 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 Peterson Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5.9 ft. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Peterson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Peterson 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 Peterson Lake
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Water Temperature
Peterson Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in July. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Sep (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2011–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Peterson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 69 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,540 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 14.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 32% |
| 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 Peterson 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
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| MMS | 130.51 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 76.74 | — |
| Bluegill | 39.67 | 0.12 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 15.88 | 1.69 lb |
| Rock Bass | 10.91 | 0.3 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.89 | 0.14 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.
Bluegill
Smallmouth Bass
Rock Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-07-15 survey
Clitherall Lake is a 2,493-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in south-central Otter Tail County approximately one mile south of Clitherall, MN. Clitherall Lake is connected to Crane Lake via a non-navigable inlet along the south shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Peterson Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ClitherallFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Clitherall (1190)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ClitherallFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ClitherallPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (25 observations).
Estimated open water season: 233 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-15 (2024) | 2008-05-04 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-22 (2002) | 2023-12-30 (2023) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-14
EPA Impairment Status
Peterson 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 MN56-0191-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.19 km)
Graded lakes near Peterson Lake
Peterson Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Peterson Lake
What is the water quality grade for Peterson Lake?
- Peterson Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 69 ft. Surface area: 2539.81 acres.
Is Peterson Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Peterson 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 Peterson Lake?
- Peterson Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in July, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Peterson Lake?
- Peterson Lake has a maximum depth of 69 feet. The lake covers 2539.81 acres.
What fish are in Peterson Lake?
- Fish species found in Peterson Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Peterson Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
When does Peterson Lake thaw?
- Peterson Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 14. Ice typically forms around Dec 3. The open water season is approximately 233 days.
Explore Peterson Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Monitoring
MNDA_PESTICIDE1 sample · 2022
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
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