Tamarac Lake
Tamarac Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 444.68 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 11 ft
- Area
- 445 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 11
- Open water
- 224 days
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Tamarac Lake is a 445-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 11 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, Tamarac Lake ranks #61 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 33 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 10.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 33 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Tamarac Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Tamarac 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
Tamarac Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 18 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Tamarac Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 11 ft |
| Surface Area | 445 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Tamarac LakePublic
- Pelican Lake (West)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Tamarac 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
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-06-19 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 98.67 | 0.14 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 21.06 | 0.19 lb |
| Walleye | 16.30 | 1.87 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 13.91 | 0.21 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 11.90 | 0.12 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 9.34 | 0.2 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.
Black Bullhead
Hybrid Sunfish
Walleye
Brown Bullhead
From the 2017-06-19 survey
Tamarac Lake is a 392-acre eutrophic (fertile) lake located in northwestern Otter Tail County approximately ten miles north of Pelican Rapids, MN. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth of Tamarac Lake is 11 feet. The secchi disk…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Tamarac Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TamaracFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — TamaracFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — TamaracPublic 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 | ↓ Declining | -0.133 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.13 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.43 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (8 observations).
Estimated open water season: 224 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2004-04-08 (2004) | 2008-04-24 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2004-11-05 (2004) | 2007-11-28 (2007) |
Most recent ice-out: 2008-04-24
County Ranking
Ranked #61 of 66 lakes in Otter Tail County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Tamarac Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Tamarac Lake
What is the water quality grade for Tamarac Lake?
- Tamarac Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 444.68 acres.
Is Tamarac Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Tamarac Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 10.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Tamarac Lake?
- Tamarac Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 18 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Tamarac Lake?
- Tamarac Lake has a maximum depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 444.68 acres.
What fish are in Tamarac Lake?
- Fish species found in Tamarac Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Tamarac Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
When does Tamarac Lake thaw?
- Tamarac Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 11. Ice typically forms around Nov 21. The open water season is approximately 224 days.
Are there boat ramps on Tamarac Lake?
- Tamarac Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Tamarac Lake, Pelican Lake (West). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Tamarac Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
72 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA72 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 (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
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