East Leaf Lake vs Rush Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
East Leaf Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Rush Lake. Both are in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
Both East Leaf Lake and Rush 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. These two sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, East Leaf Lake versus Rush Lake. The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
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 Leaf Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.9 ft.
Rush Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | East Leaf Lake | Rush Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 7.9 ft Better | 7.5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 23 µg/L Better | 27 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.8 µg/L | 9.8 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 43 ft | 68 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 404 acres | 5,276 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 19 | 19 |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | 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.
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Verdict
East Leaf Lake and Rush Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (East Leaf Lake: 7.9 ft, Rush Lake: 7.5 ft) and what you want from the lake. East Leaf Lake matches its peer on species count.
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Where to stay near East Leaf Lake and Rush Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around East Leaf Lake and Rush 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 Leaf Lake and Rush Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.