Nobles County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 4 lakes, average grade F (Very Poor)
Only 4 lakes in Nobles County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. The county average is F — the most-stressed bracket in our rubric. Most monitored lakes here show persistent nutrient loading and algal pressure.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Indian Lake (F) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Nobles County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Indian Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
DNR Reports (12)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Nobles County. browse all reports →
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OkabenaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OchedaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — IndianFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BellaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BellaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BellaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — IndianFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — IndianPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — OchedaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — OchedaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — OkabenaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — OkabenaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Nobles County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Lake | F | 2.5 ft | 6 ft | 201.5 µg/L |
| 2 | Okabena Lake | F | 3.3 ft | 16 ft | 166.5 µg/L |
| 3 | Ocheda Lake | F | 1.6 ft | 5 ft | 265 µg/L |
| 4 | Bella Lake | F | 1 ft | 14 ft | 635 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.