Okabena Lake vs West Graham Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Okabena Lake has a higher water quality grade (D, Nutrient-rich) than West Graham Lake (F, Algae-prone). Both are in Nobles County, Minnesota.
Both Okabena Lake and West Graham 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. These two are within a letter of each other on the rubric — Okabena Lake (D) versus West Graham Lake (F). The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
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.
Okabena Lake
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility.
West Graham Lake
Murky, only visible to about 4.1 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Okabena Lake | West Graham Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | D (Nutrient-rich) Better | F (Algae-prone) |
| Water Clarity | 3.3 ft | 4.1 ft Better |
| Phosphorus | 166.5 µg/L Better | 182 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 24.1 µg/L Better | 110.8 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft Better | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 776 acres | 519 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 18 Better | 17 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | hypereutrophic |
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 Okabena Lake or West Graham Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Okabena Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade D versus West Graham Lake's Grade F. Water clarity: 3.3 ft vs 4.1 ft. For fishing diversity, Okabena Lake also leads with 18 species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.