East Graham Lake vs Okabena Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Okabena Lake has a higher water quality grade (D, Nutrient-rich) than East Graham Lake (F, Algae-prone). Both are in Nobles County, Minnesota.
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 grade differences here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies grading them. The grades are close: East Graham Lake (F) and Okabena Lake (D) are within one letter of each other on the LakeGrade rubric. The per-parameter sub-grades below will show where the small differences actually live.
With grades 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
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility.
Okabena Lake
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | East Graham Lake | Okabena Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | F (Algae-prone) | D (Nutrient-rich) Better |
| Water Clarity | 3.3 ft | 3.3 ft |
| Phosphorus | 184 µg/L | 166.5 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 80.1 µg/L | 24.1 µg/L Better |
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft | 16 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 511 acres | 776 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 15 | 18 Better |
| Trophic State | hypereutrophic | eutrophic |
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.
Swap a lake
Compare East Graham Lake or Okabena Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Okabena Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade D versus East Graham Lake's Grade F. Water clarity: 3.3 ft vs 3.3 ft. For fishing diversity, Okabena Lake also leads with 18 species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.