Walker Lake
Walker Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 578.49 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 578 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Walker Lake is a 578-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, Walker Lake ranks #57 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 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Walker Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Walker 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
Walker Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 44 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Walker Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 578 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 59% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Walker LakePublic
Fishing Walker 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: 2014-08-04 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 15.04 | 0.2 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.33 | 1.24 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 7.58 | 0.62 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.65 | 0.3 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 4.54 | 0.71 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 2.83 | 0.93 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.
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
From the 2014-08-04 survey
Walker Lake is a 540-acre eutrophic (fertile) lake located in central Otter Tail County approximately four miles west of Ottertail City. The Dead River inlet is located along the north shoreline and outlets into Otter Tail Lake along the south shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of marshland and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Walker Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WalkerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WalkerFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WalkerPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.328 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.79 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.25 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Walker Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN56-0310-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #57 of 66 lakes in Otter Tail County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Walker 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 Walker Lake
What is the water quality grade for Walker Lake?
- Walker Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 578.49 acres.
Is Walker Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Walker Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Walker Lake?
- Walker Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 44 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Walker Lake?
- Walker Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 578.49 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Walker Lake?
- Walker Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Walker Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Walker Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
149 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
MNPCA149 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)
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