Turtle Lake
Turtle Lake in Todd County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 112.44 acres.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Typical in August
- 64°F
- Max depth
- 39 ft
- Area
- 112 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Todd County
Why Turtle 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 Turtle 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.
Turtle Lake is a 112-acre lake in Todd County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 39 feet (20-foot average). The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-20. 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 Turtle Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Turtle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Turtle Lake in Todd 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 Turtle Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Turtle Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 78°F) and coldest in Jul (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 79 field readings (2021–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Turtle Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 39 ft |
| Average Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 112 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 30% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Turtle LakePublic
- Kobliska Wildlife Management AreaPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Turtle Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-04-07 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CSH | 25.22 | 0.03 lb |
| Bluegill | 23.47 | 0.12 lb |
| CNM | 18.14 | — |
| Black Crappie | 10.93 | 0.32 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 8.79 | 0.94 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.42 | 1.25 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.
CSH
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Tullibee (Cisco)
From the 2025-04-07 survey
Turtle Lake (DOW# 77-0088-00; Lake Class 28) is a 112- acre lake located near Browerville, Minnesota. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) owned concrete boat ramp is located on the west shore. Turtle Lake has 2.19 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 39 feet. Turtle provides multiple angling…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Turtle Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TurtleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Turtle (0883)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — TurtleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — TurtlePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Graded lakes near Turtle Lake
Turtle Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Todd County
Frequently asked questions about Turtle Lake
What is the water quality grade for Turtle Lake?
- Turtle Lake in Todd County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 112.44 acres.
Is Turtle Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Turtle 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 Turtle Lake?
- Turtle Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August, from 79 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Turtle Lake?
- Turtle Lake has a maximum depth of 39 feet and an average depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 112.44 acres.
What fish are in Turtle Lake?
- Fish species found in Turtle Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, greater redhorse, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Turtle Lake is located in Todd County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Turtle Lake?
- Turtle Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Turtle Lake, Kobliska Wildlife Management Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Turtle Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
9 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA9 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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