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Okabena Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than East Graham Lake. Both are in Nobles County, Minnesota.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

Both East Graham Lake and Okabena Lake sit in Minnesota. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any differences in the readings here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies sampling them. The readings are close: East Graham Lake and Okabena Lake sit within a narrow band of each other on phosphorus, chlorophyll-a and clarity. The per-parameter table below shows where the small differences actually live.

With readings this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.

East Graham Lake

Nobles County, Minnesota

Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility.

Okabena Lake

Nobles County, Minnesota

Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility.

Side-by-Side Metrics

MetricEast Graham LakeOkabena Lake
Water Clarity3.3 ft3.3 ft
Phosphorus184 µg/L166.5 µg/L Better
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)80.1 µg/L24.1 µg/L Better
Maximum Depth8 ft16 ft Better
Surface Area511 acres776 acres
Public AccessYesYes
Fish Species1518 Better
Trophic Statehypereutrophiceutrophic

A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.

Verdict

Okabena Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than East Graham Lake. Water clarity: 3.3 ft vs 3.3 ft. For fishing diversity, Okabena Lake also leads with 18 species.

Stays via Stay22

Where to stay near East Graham Lake and Okabena Lake

Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around East Graham Lake and Okabena Lake. Both lakes are pinned on the map, so you can see which stays sit nearer the one you pick. Switch to Satellite to see how close each is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near East Graham Lake and Okabena Lake

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.