West Battle Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota5,615 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for West Battle Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 108 ft max depth
- Public access
West Battle Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 18 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 108 ft. Surface area: 5614.95 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 8, 2024 caught 1.67 walleye per gill net at West Battle Lake. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of West Battle Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 100 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
West Battle Lake is a 5,615-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 108 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, West Battle Lake ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What West Battle Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water18 ft of visibility
- Fishing17 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 15
- Deep water108 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water5,615 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. West Battle Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether West Battle Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for West Battle Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for West Battle Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 18 ft down. Phosphorus 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.7 µg/L. TSI 37.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 18ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 8µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.7µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 37 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about West Battle Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for West Battle Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (57,544 cells/mL) on November 29, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 8, 2024 caught 1.67 walleye per gill net at West Battle Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows West Battle Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-04-21 (Targeted Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2025-04-21 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 33.78 | 3–9 in 2024-07-08 | 0.14 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.42 | 5–10 in 2024-07-08 | 0.17 lb |
| Rock Bass | 5.70 | 3–12 in 2024-07-08 | 0.39 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.57 | 3–8 in 2024-07-08 | 0.21 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 5.11 | 3–8 in 2024-07-08 | 0.23 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.56 | 13–31 in 2024-07-08 | 2.16 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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 Perch
Rock Bass
Pumpkinseed
From the 2025-04-21 survey
West Battle Lake is a 5,624-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in south-central Otter Tail County. The city of Battle Lake, Minnesota abuts the west shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth is 108 feet; however,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for West Battle Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — West BattleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — West Battle (1195)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — West BattleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — West BattlePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
108 ft
Surface area
5,615 acres
Shoreline
17.1 mi
Littoral zone
44%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
170 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,322 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near West Battle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Battle 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.
Top-rated places to stay near West Battle Lake
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Follow West Battle Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing West Battle Lake
- → West Battle Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → West Battle Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → West Battle Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from West Battle Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.5 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.34 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 15
Earliest Mar 19, 2024 · Latest May 13, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 30
Earliest Nov 26, 2002 · Latest Dec 20, 2001
Most recent ice-out
Apr 11
2025
57 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
West Battle Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN56-0239-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about West Battle Lake
Where is West Battle Lake?
- West Battle Lake is a lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of West Battle Lake?
- West Battle Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 18 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 108 ft. Surface area: 5614.95 acres.
Is West Battle Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. West Battle Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is West Battle Lake?
- West Battle Lake has a maximum depth of 108 feet. The lake covers 5614.95 acres.
What fish are in West Battle Lake?
- Fish species found in West Battle Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. West Battle Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at West Battle Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 8, 2024 caught 1.67 walleye per gill net at West Battle Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows West Battle Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does West Battle Lake thaw?
- West Battle Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 229 days.
Does West Battle Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for West Battle Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (57,544 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Can I fish at West Battle Lake?
- Public access to West Battle Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
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Where this data comes from
247 measurements from 4 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
MNPCA247 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 (4)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate