Preserving county lakes, rivers and land
News | Published on February 17, 2026 at 3:35pm GMT+0000 | Author: Tucker Henderson
0By Tom Hintgen
Otter Tail County Correspondent
The state of Minnesota, in coordination with Otter Tail County and the other 86 counties in the state, recognizes that the uncontrolled use of land could adversely affect the health, safety and general well-being of the public.
Therefore, state legislators and county commissioners have imposed laws and ordinances such as shoreland management ordinances and septic system regulations in an attempt to ensure a viable environment for county residents and visitors.
“We work to provide for the wise subdivision, use and orderly development of shorelands of public waters,” says Otter Tail County Land and Resource Director Chris LeClair.
“At the same time, we in the County Land and Resource office strive to provide positive customer service,” said LeClair to county board members on Tuesday morning, Feb. 10. “My staff members are dedicated and do great work for the well-being of county residents.”
Added LeClair, “We are in the business of oftentimes needing to say no, but even though we can’t control the response we can control the message,” LeClair said. “We strive to address county residents with the utmost respect.”
In recent years the Minnesota Clean Water Partnership (CWP) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) have awarded Otter Tail County grants to provide low interest loans to property owners to replace non-compliant subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS). Replacement and/or repair results in a water quality improvement.
“Otter Tail County serves as the lender,” said LeClair, who reminded county commissioners on Feb. 10 that septic system waste (septage) is frequently transported to agricultural land as fertilizer.
Interested property owners can submit an SSTS financial assistance application to the County Land and Resource office. The application is available on the website at: https://ottertailcounty.gov/assistance-and-support/financial-assistance/septic-system-loan-program/
Also speaking at the county board meeting on Feb. 10 was Alex Kvidt, administrator of the Otter Tail Water Management District (OTWMD).
The OTWMD includes six county lakes: Blanche, Walker, Deer, Otter Tail, Round and the southern portion of Long Lake. This area also includes a portion of Ottertail city, four townships and the Otter Tail River in north central Otter Tail County.
Founded by the county board in 1981, the OTWMD has a board of directors with responsibilities for land use planning, flood control and protection of health and natural resources.