West Leaf Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota700 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for West Leaf Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 55 ft max depth
- Public access
West Leaf Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 25, 2022 caught 7.22 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at West Leaf Lake. DNR survey details →
West Leaf Lake is a 700-acre mesotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 55 feet. 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 1 public boat landing. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
West Leaf Lake covers about 700 acres in Otter Tail County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 15, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around West Leaf Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What West Leaf Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing18 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 15
- Deep water55 ft surveyed max depth
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 Leaf Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether West Leaf 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 Leaf Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for West Leaf Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.2 µg/L. TSI 48.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 7.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 22µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 6.2µg/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. | 48 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about West Leaf Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
West Leaf Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (50°F) to its warmest (67°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 25, 2022 caught 7.22 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at West Leaf Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows West Leaf Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-25 (Targeted Survey).
10 surveys on file · most recent 2022-07-25 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 22.75 | ||
| Bluegill | 22.02 | 2–9 in 2022-07-11 | 0.2 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 8.06 | 6–13 in 2022-07-11 | 0.64 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 Bullhead
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
Lake Details
Max depth
55 ft
Surface area
700 acres
Shoreline
6.9 mi
Littoral zone
37%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
43 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,312 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- West Leaf LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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.
Top-rated places to stay near West Leaf Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow West Leaf Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.54 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.52 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 15
Earliest Apr 7, 2004 · Latest Apr 30, 2023
Typical ice-in
Nov 15
Earliest Nov 12, 2019 · Latest Nov 24, 2003
Most recent ice-out
Apr 30
2023
7 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN56-0114-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about West Leaf Lake
Where is West Leaf Lake?
- West Leaf 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 Leaf Lake?
- West Leaf Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. West Leaf Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of West Leaf Lake?
- West Leaf Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at West Leaf Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 25, 2022 caught 7.22 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at West Leaf Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows West Leaf Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include West Leaf Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at West Leaf Lake?
- West Leaf Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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.
Explore West Leaf Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate