Turtle Lake

Turtle Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season.

A TSI near 41 places Turtle Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. Turtle Lake reaches 39 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 112 acres, Turtle Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 2.2 miles of shoreline. Turtle Lake ranks 7 of 17 in Todd County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Turtle Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 18 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. A documented public access point at Turtle Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.