East Hunter Lake
East Hunter Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Surface area: 56.9 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Area
- 57 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Sherburne County
East Hunter Lake is a 57-acre mesotrophic lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including black bullhead and yellow perch. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Sherburne County, East Hunter Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-08. 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 12.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 24.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 24.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near East Hunter Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near East Hunter Lake in Sherburne 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.
Top-rated places to stay near East Hunter Lake
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Water Temperature
East Hunter Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 63 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full East Hunter Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 57 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 96% |
| Public Access | No |
The available depth estimate for East Hunter Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing East Hunter Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2007-06-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 212.38 | 0.2 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 31.33 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluegill | 27.90 | 0.1 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 13.17 | 1.6 lb |
| GOS | 10.25 | 0.08 lb |
| Northern Pike | 8.50 | 2.98 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.
Black Bullhead
Pumpkinseed
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2007-06-11 survey
East and West Hunter Lakes are small, shallow, connected lakes located four miles west of Zimmerman in eastern Sherburne County. In 1986 Livonia Township secured title to a parcel on the northwest shore of West Hunter Lake and made arrangements with DNR for a cooperative access. The Hunter Lakes have a history of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for East Hunter Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — East HunterFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.207 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.86 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.86 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
East Hunter 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 MN71-0023-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 18 lakes in Sherburne County
Nearby Lakes in Sherburne County
Frequently asked questions about East Hunter Lake
What is the water quality grade for East Hunter Lake?
- East Hunter Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Surface area: 56.9 acres.
Is East Hunter Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. East Hunter Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of East Hunter Lake?
- East Hunter Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 63 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is East Hunter Lake?
- The available depth estimate for East Hunter Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 56.9 acres.
What fish are in East Hunter Lake?
- Fish species found in East Hunter Lake include black bullhead, yellow perch. East Hunter Lake is located in Sherburne County, Minnesota.
Explore East Hunter Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
29 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA29 samples · 2024–2025
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