Scalp Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota254 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Scalp Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- zebra mussel
- 90 ft max depth
- Public access
Scalp Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 90 ft. Surface area: 254.38 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 31, 2025 caught 2.08 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Scalp Lake. DNR survey details →
Scalp Lake is a 254-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 90 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and green sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, Scalp Lake ranks #30 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Scalp Lake covers about 250 acres in Otter Tail County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 20, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Scalp Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Scalp Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water20 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 20
- Deep water90 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Scalp 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 Scalp Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Scalp Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 20 ft down. Phosphorus 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.8 µg/L. TSI 35.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 20ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 9µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 1.8µg/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. | 35 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Scalp Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Scalp Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (51°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Scalp Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 31, 2025 caught 2.08 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Scalp Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Scalp 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
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-31 (Targeted Survey).
8 surveys on file · most recent 2025-07-31 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 42.16 | 3–8 in 2025-06-16 | 0.13 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 22.07 | ||
| Bluntnose Minnow | 19.94 |
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.
Bluegill
From the 2025-07-31 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Scalp Lake was conducted on July 31, 2025, by Area Fisheries staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 10…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Scalp Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ScalpFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Scalp (1193)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ScalpFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ScalpPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
90 ft
Surface area
254 acres
Shoreline
2.6 mi
Littoral zone
26%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
8 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,355 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Scalp 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 Scalp Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Scalp 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 Scalp Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Scalp Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Scalp 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
Worsening+0.83 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.13 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 20
Earliest Mar 24, 2024 · Latest May 7, 2022
Typical ice-in
Dec 4
Earliest Nov 20, 2018 · Latest Dec 19, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Mar 24
2024
35 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Scalp Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Vergas WwtpVergas · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MN0025097
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Scalp Lake
Where is Scalp Lake?
- Scalp 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 Scalp Lake?
- Scalp Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 90 ft. Surface area: 254.38 acres.
Is Scalp Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Scalp Lake?
- Scalp Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September, from 28 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Scalp Lake?
- Scalp Lake has a maximum depth of 90 feet. The lake covers 254.38 acres.
What fish are in Scalp Lake?
- Fish species found in Scalp Lake include black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Scalp Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Scalp Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 31, 2025 caught 2.08 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Scalp Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Scalp 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 Scalp Lake thaw?
- Scalp Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Dec 4. The open water season is approximately 228 days.
Are there boat ramps on Scalp Lake?
- Scalp Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Scalp Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Scalp Lake?
- Scalp 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 Scalp Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Otter Tail County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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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 readings
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
114 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
MNPCA114 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 (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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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