West Otter Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
West Otter Lake is mapped to a depth of 29 ft on the Indiana DNR survey and covers about 120 acres in Steuben County, Indiana. Depths come from the Indiana DNR survey of 2015.
Measured from the Indiana DNR lake bathymetry survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 29 ft
- Survey year
- 2015
- Surface area
- 120 acres
- Shoreline
- 2.55 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 4% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Ramp · West Otter Lake Public Access Site · Indiana DNR site
Additional depth details5 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–29 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 29 ft
Provenance
Sources: IN DNR Lake Bathymetry, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
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Map details & sources4 sources
All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.
Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Color shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 41.63884, -85.16789
- IN DNR lake ID
- 155640004
- Vertical exaggeration
- 2.69×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.1 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-10-08West Otter Lake has a substantially developed setting, generally sheltered geometry, nearby higher-volume roads. No special watercraft restriction is identified in the current source.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Modest | 4.2 of 30 | 36% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (2% forest, 35% wetland; 51% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Very Good | 17.2 of 25 | mean fetch 875 m · 10% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · generally short fetch |
| Watercraft controls | None identified | 7.5 of 15 | No special watercraft restriction identified in the current DNR source. Motors permitted, subject to general law. |
| Public access | Good | 12.8 of 15 | 1 DNR fishing access site · boat ramp · ADA-accessible |
| Road isolation | Mixed | 3.5 of 15 | nearby higher-volume roads · 6 INDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 7,397 vehicles/day |
Additional paddling considerations
These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.
- Wake sensitivity
- Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
- Aquatic vegetation
- Low — approximately 4% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
- Observed motorized activity
- Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
- Wildlife habitat potential
- Limited — 2% forest and 35% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Indiana lakes by Paddling Index →
West Otter Lake — common questions
How deep is West Otter Lake?
The deepest contour on the Indiana DNR bathymetric survey of West Otter Lake is 29 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.
How big is West Otter Lake?
West Otter Lake covers about 120 acres in Steuben County, Indiana.
Is there public access to West Otter Lake?
Yes. The Indiana DNR lists a public access site on West Otter Lake: a boat ramp with restrooms and ADA access. The DNR records no fee. DNR directions: "Seven miles west of Angola on US 20."
