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C

East Auburn Lake

Carver County, MinnesotaEutrophic

East Auburn Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.

At a TSI of 58, East Auburn Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. 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. Among the 40 graded lakes in Carver County, East Auburn Lake sits at rank 12, above the county median.

East Auburn Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for East Auburn Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. A documented public access point at East Auburn Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Ice-out has been recorded 21 times at East Auburn Lake, with a median around Apr 1. 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 2024-10-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

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Swimming Safety

Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality

Water Quality Grade: C, Fair

Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus level: 57.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)5 ftD
Phosphorus57.5 µg/LC
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)58Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Invasive & Introduced Species

Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.

Eurasian watermilfoil

Water Quality Trend: Stable

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

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.045 m/yr5
Phosphorus Declining+28.01 µg/L/yr4
See year-by-year chart →

Ice Season

Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (32 observations).

Typical Ice-Out
Apr 1
Typical Ice-In
Nov 22

Estimated open water season: 235 days

EarliestLatest
Ice-Out2024-03-03 (2024)2018-05-01 (2018)
Ice-In2019-11-12 (2019)2011-12-02 (2011)

Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-30

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #12 of 40 lakes in Carver County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

East Auburn Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Carver County

DNR Reports & Resources

Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for East Auburn Lake. 1 report on file.

EPA Impairment Status

East Auburn Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Impaired biota (cause unknown)Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

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

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN10-0044-02 · Official waterbody report

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

Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate

Most recent sample: 2024-10-03

Monitoring stations: 1