Lake Assessment Program - Dead Lake, Otter Tail County

Dead Lake is located in central Otter Tail County approximately three miles south of the community of Dent. Dead lake is a fairly shallow and extremely large lake encompassing approximately 7,900 acres (representing the 33rd largest lake in the state). Land use within the lake's watershed is predominantly characterized by water and marsh lands {40%) with forest and cultivated lands representing 23% and 20% of the total watershed acreage, respectively. Numerous lakes are present in the watershed. The land use composition is somewhat different then what would be expected in this region of the state (the North Central Hardwood Forest ecoregion). Dead Lake was sampled for water quality data during the summer of 1993 by MPCA staff along with representatives of the Dead Lake Association. The work described in this study was undertaken upon a request from the Dead Lake Association.