Big Stone Lake, Ortonville (N) Public Water Access Site

On Big Stone Lake

Big Stone Lake is a long, narrow freshwater lake and reservoir on the border between western Minnesota and northeastern South Dakota. It covers 12,610 acres, runs 26 miles from end to end, averages about 1 mile wide, and is at most 16 feet deep. Ortonville, Minnesota, and Big Stone City, South Dakota, sit at its southern tip, and Browns Valley, Minnesota, is at its northern tip. The lake formed at the end of the last ice age, when glacial Lake Agassiz drained through the Traverse Gap into Glacial River Warren. That river's valley now holds the lake. The Little Minnesota River feeds it from the north, and the lake is the source of the Minnesota River, which flows 332 miles to the Mississippi. The Upper Minnesota River Watershed District runs the Big Stone Lake/Whetstone control structure, built in 1987 just below the foot of the lake. The district holds a summer pool of 968 to 968.3 feet project datum and lowers the lake to about 967 feet each October for spring flood protection. More about Big Stone Lake.

Boating rules on Big Stone Lake

• Clean watercraft, trailers and equipment to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species (Minnesota law) source
• Drain all water and leave drain plugs out during transport source
• Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash; never release bait, plants or aquarium pets source
• Dry docks, lifts and rafts for 21 days before moving them to another water body source
• Lake level managed to a summer pool of 968-968.3 ft pd, with a drawdown to about 967 ft every October source

Community

Where people who use Big Stone Lake talk about it.

• Big Stone Lake - Upper Minnesota River Watershed District Agency
• Citizens for Big Stone Lake Facebook
• Big Stone Lake Fishing Tournaments Facebook
• Big stone lake? - HotSpot Outdoors NE South Dakota forum Forum
• Big Stone Lake gage (NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service) Link
• Search Reddit: r/minnesota Reddit
• Search all of Reddit for Big Stone Lake, Minnesota Reddit

Nearby launches

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• Minnesota River, Odessa Public Water Access Site · 7.2 mi · Minnesota River