West Mcdonald Lake
West Mcdonald Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 62 ft. Surface area: 596.86 acres.
- Clarity
- 16.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 62 ft
- Area
- 597 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 20
- Open water
- 219 days
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Why West Mcdonald 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 Mcdonald 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 Mcdonald Lake is a 597-acre lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 62 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-01. 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 Mcdonald Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 16.2 ft down. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near West Mcdonald Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Mcdonald 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 Mcdonald Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 30 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full West Mcdonald Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 62 ft |
| Surface Area | 597 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 31% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Round LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing West Mcdonald 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
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-09 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 33.60 | 0.55 lb |
| Bluegill | 29.17 | 0.18 lb |
| MMS | 22.18 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 16.86 | — |
| Yellow Bass | 10.39 | 0.72 lb |
| BMS | 8.36 | — |
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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
From the 2025-06-09 survey
West McDonald Lake is a 573-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in north-central Otter Tail County, approximately four miles south of Vergas, MN. West McDonald Lake is within the Otter Tail River Watershed. There are no inlets or outlets connected to West McDonald Lake. The immediate watershed is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for West Mcdonald 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 McDonaldFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — West McDonaldFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — West McDonaldPublic 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 | → Stable | +0.019 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.11 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.11 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (83 observations).
Estimated open water season: 219 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-31 (2016) | 2013-05-12 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-04 (1991) | 1999-12-16 (1999) |
Most recent ice-out: 2018-04-30
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
West Mcdonald Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Mcdonald Lakes (completed 1937), built primarily for recreation on the Dead River-TR; other-type dam, 7 ft tall and 34 ft long.
- Surface area
- 561 ac
- Normal storage
- 25,593 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 28,287 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6.99 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00200 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.69 km)
EPA Impairment Status
West Mcdonald 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 MN56-0386-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.41 km)
Graded lakes near West Mcdonald Lake
West Mcdonald Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about West Mcdonald Lake
What is the water quality grade for West Mcdonald Lake?
- West Mcdonald Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 62 ft. Surface area: 596.86 acres.
Is West Mcdonald Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. West Mcdonald 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 Mcdonald Lake?
- West Mcdonald Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 30 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is West Mcdonald Lake?
- West Mcdonald Lake has a maximum depth of 62 feet. The lake covers 596.86 acres.
What fish are in West Mcdonald Lake?
- Fish species found in West Mcdonald Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. West Mcdonald Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
When does West Mcdonald Lake thaw?
- West Mcdonald Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 219 days.
Are there boat ramps on West Mcdonald Lake?
- West Mcdonald Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Round Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA4 samples · 2024
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate