East Graham Lake
East Graham Lake in Nobles County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 184 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 80.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 511.33 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 78°F
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 511 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near East Graham Lake →
Next lake in Nobles County
East Graham Lake is a 511-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Nobles County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Nobles County, East Graham Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 184 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 80.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 184 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 80.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near East Graham Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near East Graham Lake in Nobles 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 Graham Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near East Graham Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
East Graham Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Sep (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2019–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full East Graham Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 511 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- East Graham LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing East Graham Lake
EPA Impairment Status
East Graham 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 MN53-0020-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 5 lakes in Nobles County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
East Graham Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Nobles County
Frequently asked questions about East Graham Lake
What is the water quality grade for East Graham Lake?
- East Graham Lake in Nobles County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 184 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 80.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 511.33 acres.
Is East Graham 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 Graham Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 80.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of East Graham Lake?
- East Graham Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is East Graham Lake?
- East Graham Lake has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 511.33 acres.
What fish are in East Graham Lake?
- Fish species found in East Graham Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, quillback, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. East Graham Lake is located in Nobles County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on East Graham Lake?
- East Graham Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include East Graham Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore East Graham Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory