Wright Lake
Wright Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 66.56 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 66°F
- Max depth
- 32 ft
- Area
- 67 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Why Wright 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 Wright 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.
Wright Lake is a 67-acre lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 32 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-26. 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 Wright Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.7 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Wright Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wright 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 Wright Lake
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Water Temperature
Wright Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 63°F. Usually warmest in Sep (about 69°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 (2016–2016) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Wright Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Surface Area | 67 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 54% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wright 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: 2016-06-20 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 19.98 | 1.67 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.18 | 0.13 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.10 | 0.85 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.84 | 0.08 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 3.33 | 0.16 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.53 | 2.15 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.
Smallmouth Bass
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2016-06-20 survey
Wright Lake is a 63-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located within the city limits of Fergus Falls, MN. Wright Lake is connected to Hoot Lake via a navigable inlet along the north shoreline that is a portion of the Otter Tail River. The city water plant is located at the outlet along the west shoreline. The…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wright Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WrightFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WrightFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WrightPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.19 m/yr | 3 |
Graded lakes near Wright Lake
Wright Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Wright Lake
What is the water quality grade for Wright Lake?
- Wright Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 66.56 acres.
Is Wright Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Wright 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 Wright Lake?
- Wright Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August, from 26 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2016). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Wright Lake?
- Wright Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake covers 66.56 acres.
What fish are in Wright Lake?
- Fish species found in Wright Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), golden redhorse, hybrid sunfish, lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, silver redhorse, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Wright Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
7 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA7 samples · 2022–2024
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder