Rose Lake
Rose Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 137 ft. Surface area: 1200.47 acres.
- Clarity
- 16 ft
- Typical in August
- 58°F
- Max depth
- 137 ft
- Area
- 1,200 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 23
- Open water
- 226 days
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Rose Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 130 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Why Rose 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 Rose 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.
Rose Lake is a 1,200-acre lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 137 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-13. 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 Rose Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Rose Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rose 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 Rose Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Rose Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 58°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 60°F) and coldest in May (about 48°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 195 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Rose Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 137 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,200 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 39% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Rice LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Rose 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: 2024-08-26 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 21.97 | — |
| Bluegill | 21.63 | 0.14 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 16.12 | 0.81 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 15.00 | 0.1 lb |
| BNS | 11.83 | — |
| BCS | 9.56 | — |
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
Largemouth Bass
Green Sunfish
From the 2024-08-26 survey
Rose Lake is a 1,190-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in north-central Otter Tail County approximately one mile east of Vergas, MN. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of hardwood woodlots. An outlet dam is located along the south shoreline. The maximum depth is 137 feet; however, 39% of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Rose Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RoseFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — RoseFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — RosePublic 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 | +0.221 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (8 observations).
Estimated open water season: 226 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-04-03 (2017) | 2008-05-07 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2007-12-04 (2007) | 2015-12-27 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-07
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Rose Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Rose Lake (completed 1937), built primarily for recreation on the OTTER TAIL RIVER - TR, 12 ft tall and 40 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,177 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 10,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR-Fisheries
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00964 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Rose 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 MN56-0360-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Rose Lake
Rose Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Rose Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rose Lake?
- Rose Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 137 ft. Surface area: 1200.47 acres.
Is Rose Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Rose 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 Rose Lake?
- Rose Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in August, from 195 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Rose Lake?
- Rose Lake has a maximum depth of 137 feet. The lake covers 1200.47 acres.
What fish are in Rose Lake?
- Fish species found in Rose Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Rose Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
When does Rose Lake thaw?
- Rose Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 23. Ice typically forms around Dec 5. The open water season is approximately 226 days.
Are there boat ramps on Rose Lake?
- Rose Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Rice Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Rose Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
46 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA46 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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