East Arctic Lake
East Arctic Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 94.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 44.6 µg/L.
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near East Arctic Lake →
Next lake in Scott County
East Arctic Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Scott County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 94.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 44.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 94.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 44.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around East Arctic Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near East Arctic Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
East Arctic Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Fishing East Arctic Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.116 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.29 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.84 µg/L/yr | 6 |
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
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)
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 21 lakes in Scott County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
East Arctic Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Scott County
Frequently asked questions about East Arctic Lake
What is the water quality grade for East Arctic Lake?
- East Arctic Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 94.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 44.6 µg/L.
Is East Arctic Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. East Arctic Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 44.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of East Arctic Lake?
- East Arctic Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 135 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore East Arctic Lake across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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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)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)