East Arctic Lake
Scott County, MinnesotaView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for East Arctic Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
East Arctic Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 94.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 44.6 µg/L.
East Arctic Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Scott County, Minnesota. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Scott County, East Arctic Lake ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-24. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyAlgae risk
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether East Arctic Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for East Arctic Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for East Arctic Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 94.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 44.6 µg/L. TSI 69.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 94.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 44.6µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 69 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about East Arctic Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
East Arctic Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Apr (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (50°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 135 field readings (2017–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full East Arctic Lake water temperature breakdown →
Stays via Stay22
Stays near East Arctic Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near East Arctic Lake in Scott County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around East Arctic Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near East Arctic Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fishing East Arctic Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.29 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+1.84 µg/L/yr6 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of East Arctic Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Smsc Water Reclamation FacilityPrior Lake · 0.6 mi away · NPDES MN0067938Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Scott County
Frequently asked questions about East Arctic Lake
Where is East Arctic Lake?
- East Arctic Lake is a lake in Scott County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of East Arctic Lake?
- East Arctic Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 94.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 44.6 µg/L.
Is East Arctic Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of East Arctic Lake?
- East Arctic Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October, from 135 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Can I fish at East Arctic Lake?
- Public access to East Arctic Lake is listed as no on the lake record, so confirm before you make the trip. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore East Arctic Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Scott County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near East Arctic Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
143 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota (Tribal)
SMSCGOV_WQX143 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- 4500 P ~ Phosphorus in water and wastewater
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)