Spitzer Lake
Spitzer Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 731.39 acres.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Typical in August
- 64°F
- Max depth
- 33 ft
- Area
- 731 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Spitzer Lake is a 731-acre mesotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 33 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, Spitzer Lake ranks #53 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus level: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 24 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Spitzer Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spitzer 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.
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Water Temperature
Spitzer Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 63°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 65°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 65 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Spitzer Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 33 ft |
| Surface Area | 731 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 20.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 86% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Spitzer LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Spitzer Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-06-18 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 22.57 | 0.12 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 21.44 | 0.32 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 12.22 | 0.48 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.90 | 1.15 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.36 | 0.14 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.70 | 1.43 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
Yellow Bass
Black Bullhead
Largemouth Bass
From the 2018-06-18 survey
Spitzer Lake is a 728-acre eutrophic (fertile) lake located in south-central Otter Tail County approximately five miles northwest of Urbank, MN. Spitzer Lake is part of the Pomme de Terre River Watershed. There are several intermittent, unnavigable inlets and outlets connected to Spitzer Lake. The immediate watershed…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Spitzer Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SpitzerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Spitzer (1158)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SpitzerFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SpitzerPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.04 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Spitzer 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 MN56-0160-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #53 of 66 lakes in Otter Tail County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Spitzer Lake holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Spitzer Lake
What is the water quality grade for Spitzer Lake?
- Spitzer Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 731.39 acres.
Is Spitzer Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Spitzer Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Spitzer Lake?
- Spitzer Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August, from 65 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Spitzer Lake?
- Spitzer Lake has a maximum depth of 33 feet. The lake covers 731.39 acres.
What fish are in Spitzer Lake?
- Fish species found in Spitzer Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, channel catfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Spitzer Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Spitzer Lake?
- Spitzer Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Spitzer Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Spitzer Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
60 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA60 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory