West Lost Lake
West Lost Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 794.65 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Area
- 795 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Why West Lost 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 West Lost 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.
West Lost Lake is a 795-acre lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-08-02. 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 West Lost Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.2 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near West Lost Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Lost 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 Lost Lake
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Water Temperature
West Lost Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (2021–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full West Lost Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 795 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 12.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 87% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- West Lost LakePublic
- Pleasant LakePublic
- Fish LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing West Lost 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: 2021-05-20 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 18.40 | 0.25 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 14.74 | 0.17 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.40 | 0.92 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 7.03 | 0.81 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 5.97 | 0.87 lb |
| GOS | 5.76 | — |
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 Perch
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Bass
From the 2021-05-20 survey
West Lost Lake is a 723-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in central Otter Tail County approximately seven miles north of Underwood, MN. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural and marsh land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. West Lost Lake is part of the Otter Tail River…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for West Lost 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 LostFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — West LostFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — West LostPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
West Lost 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 MN56-0481-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near West Lost Lake
West Lost Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about West Lost Lake
What is the water quality grade for West Lost Lake?
- West Lost Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 794.65 acres.
Is West Lost Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. West Lost 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 West Lost Lake?
- West Lost Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 26 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is West Lost Lake?
- West Lost Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 794.65 acres.
What fish are in West Lost Lake?
- Fish species found in West Lost Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), green sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow perch. West Lost Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on West Lost Lake?
- West Lost Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include West Lost Lake, Pleasant Lake, Fish Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore West Lost Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA5 samples · 2021
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
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