West Leaf Lake
West Leaf Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 700 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 64°F
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 700 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 15
- Open water
- 214 days
Next lake in Otter Tail County
West Leaf Lake is a 700-acre mesotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 55 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, West Leaf Lake ranks #37 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near West Leaf Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Leaf 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
West Leaf Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 67°F) and coldest in May (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 136 field readings (2011–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full West Leaf Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 700 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 37% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- West Leaf LakePublic
- Portage LakePublic
- Middle Leaf LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing West Leaf 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-25 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 22.75 | — |
| Bluegill | 22.02 | 0.2 lb |
| BNS | 16.94 | — |
| BCS | 10.69 | — |
| IOD | 8.45 | — |
| Yellow Bass | 8.06 | 0.64 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
From the 2022-07-25 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in West Leaf Lake was conducted on July 25, 2022 by Fergus Falls Area Fisheries Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for West Leaf Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — West LeafFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — West LeafFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — West LeafPublic 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 | +0.06 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.54 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.52 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (7 observations).
Estimated open water season: 214 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2004-04-07 (2004) | 2023-04-30 (2023) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-12 (2019) | 2003-11-24 (2003) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-30
EPA Impairment Status
West Leaf Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN56-0114-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #37 of 66 lakes in Otter Tail County
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about West Leaf Lake
What is the water quality grade for West Leaf Lake?
- West Leaf Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 700 acres.
Is West Leaf Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. West Leaf Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of West Leaf Lake?
- West Leaf Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August, from 136 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is West Leaf Lake?
- West Leaf Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 700 acres.
What fish are in West Leaf Lake?
- Fish species found in West Leaf Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. West Leaf Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
When does West Leaf Lake thaw?
- West Leaf Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 15. The open water season is approximately 214 days.
Are there boat ramps on West Leaf Lake?
- West Leaf Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include West Leaf Lake, Portage Lake, Middle Leaf Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore West Leaf Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
69 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA69 samples · 2020–2024
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
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate