OTTER TAIL RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
January 2, 2025
46.88, -95.64


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

Total streamflow across the Otter Tail River was last observed at 350 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 694 acre-ft of water today; about 59% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 596 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2014-06-21 when daily discharge volume was observed at 3,480 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Otter Tail River Bl Orwell D Nr Fergus Falls reporting a streamflow rate of 409 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Otter Tail River Near Elizabeth with a gauge stage of 4.9 ft. This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Otter Tail River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,272 ft, the Otter Tail River Near Elizabeth.

The Otter Tail River is a 192-mile-long river located in northwest Minnesota. It is a part of the Red River watershed and flows into the Red River of the North. The river's name originates from the shape of its delta, which looks like an otter's tail. Historically, the river was used by Native American tribes for fishing and transportation. Today, it is used for agriculture and recreation, with several reservoirs and dams along its length for flood control and power generation. These include the Orwell Dam, Fergus Falls Dam, and Breckenridge Dam. The river is popular for fishing and canoeing, and it is home to a variety of fish species, including walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass.

Last Updated 2024-12-12
Discharge Volume 694 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 350.0 cfs
-175.0 cfs (-33.33%)
Percent of Normal 58.77%
Maximum 3,480.0 cfs
2014-06-21
Seasonal Avg 596 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Otter Tail River Near Elizabeth
USGS 05030500
350 cfs 4.9 ft 74.13
Otter Tail River Bl Orwell D Nr Fergus Falls
USGS 05046000
409 cfs 2.68 ft 19.59
History of the River

The Otter Tail River is a 192-mile-long (309 km) river in the west-central portion of the U.S. state of Minnesota. It begins in Clearwater County, 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Bemidji. It then flows through a number of lakes and cities in Minnesota, including Elbow Lake, Many Point Lake, Chippewa Lake, Height of Land Lake, Frazee, the Pine lakes, Rush Lake, Otter Tail Lake and Ottertail, West Lost Lake, Fergus Falls, and Orwell Lake.
At its mouth, it joins with the Bois de Sioux River to form the Red River between Breckenridge, Minnesota and Wahpeton, North Dakota. The Red River is the Minnesota–North Dakota boundary from this point onward to the Canada–United States border. Waters of the Red River watershed ultimately flow north into Hudson Bay.
Between 1909 and 1925, the private Otter Tail Power Company built five dams on the Otter Tail River. They are Dayton Hollow (1909), Hoot Lake (1914), Pisgah (1918), Central / Wright (1871 / 1922), and Taplin Gorge (1925).

       

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