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F

East Arctic Lake

Scott County, MinnesotaEutrophic

East Arctic Lake grades an F: every scored parameter (phosphorus and chlorophyll-a) rates poorly, placing it among the most stressed lakes monitored in Minnesota. phosphorus and chlorophyll-a rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. East Arctic Lake ranks 17 of 17 in Scott County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at East Arctic Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for East Arctic Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

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Swimming Safety

Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins

Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor

No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 94.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 44.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)No data
Phosphorus94.5 µg/LF
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)44.7 µg/LF
Trophic State Index (TSI)69Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Water Quality Trend: Declining

Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.068 m/yr5
Phosphorus Stable-0.56 µg/L/yr5
Chlorophyll-a Declining+12.57 µg/L/yr5
See year-by-year chart →

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #17 of 17 lakes in Scott County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

East Arctic Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Scott County

EPA Impairment Status

East Arctic Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).

Causes of impairment

MercuryNutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN70-0072-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.9 km)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2024-10-24

Monitoring stations: 1