East Battle Lake
East Battle Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 87 ft. Surface area: 1978.25 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.1 ft
- Max depth
- 87 ft
- Area
- 1,978 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
- Open water
- 232 days
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Free interactive depth-contour map of East Battle Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 80 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
East Battle Lake is a 1,978-acre mesotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 87 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, East Battle Lake ranks #29 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 12 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near East Battle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near East Battle Lake in Otter Tail 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 87 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,978 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 13.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 42% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- East Battle LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing East Battle Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-21 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Green Sunfish | 20.58 | 0.12 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 17.23 | — |
| Bluegill | 15.39 | 0.16 lb |
| JND | 7.55 | — |
| MMS | 7.32 | — |
| Northern Pike | 6.95 | 1.05 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Green Sunfish
Bluegill
Northern Pike
From the 2025-07-21 survey
East Battle Lake is a 1,949 acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in south-central Otter Tail County approximately two miles north of Vining, MN. East Battle Lake is connected to West Battle Lake via Battle Lake Creek. The immediate watershed is composed of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for East Battle Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — East BattleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — East BattleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — East BattlePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.219 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.74 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.05 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (67 observations).
Estimated open water season: 232 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-29 (2016) | 2013-05-11 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-20 (2018) | 2002-04-16 (2002) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-29
EPA Impairment Status
East Battle Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN56-0138-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #29 of 66 lakes in Otter Tail County
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about East Battle Lake
What is the water quality grade for East Battle Lake?
- East Battle Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 87 ft. Surface area: 1978.25 acres.
Is East Battle Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. East Battle Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is East Battle Lake?
- East Battle Lake has a maximum depth of 87 feet. The lake covers 1978.25 acres.
What fish are in East Battle Lake?
- Fish species found in East Battle Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. East Battle Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
When does East Battle Lake thaw?
- East Battle Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18. Ice typically forms around Dec 6. The open water season is approximately 232 days.
Are there boat ramps on East Battle Lake?
- East Battle Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include East Battle Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore East Battle Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
173 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA173 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate