East Hunter Lake
Sherburne County, Minnesota57 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for East Hunter Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
East Hunter Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Surface area: 56.9 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 11, 2007 caught 8.50 northern pike per gill net at East Hunter Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–31 inches. DNR survey details →
East Hunter Lake is a 57-acre mesotrophic lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What East Hunter Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12.5 ft of visibility
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. East Hunter Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether East Hunter Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for East Hunter Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for East Hunter Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus 24.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.3 µg/L. TSI 46.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 12.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 24.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 5.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 46 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about East Hunter Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
East Hunter Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (61°F) to its warmest (78°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 11, 2007 caught 8.50 northern pike per gill net at East Hunter Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–31 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows East Hunter Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2007-06-11 (Standard Survey).
2 surveys on file · most recent 2007-06-11 (Standard Survey)
19 years old| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 212.38 | 6–10 in 2007-06-11 | 0.2 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 31.33 | 1–7 in 2007-06-11 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluegill | 27.90 | 1–7 in 2007-06-11 | 0.1 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 13.17 | 5–17 in 2007-06-11 | 1.6 lb |
| Golden Shiner | 10.25 | 5–8 in 2007-06-11 | 0.08 lb |
| Northern Pike | 8.50 | 8–31 in 2007-06-11 | 2.98 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Lake Details
Average depth
Not documented
Surface area
57 acres
Shoreline
1.5 mi
Littoral zone
96%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
No
Listed by Minnesota PCA
The available depth estimate for East Hunter Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow East Hunter Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing East Hunter Lake
- → East Hunter Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → East Hunter Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → East Hunter Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from East Hunter Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water quality readings over time
3 seasons of samples on record (2022–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving3 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.86 µg/L/yr3 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.86 µg/L/yr3 years
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
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN71-0022-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Sherburne County
Frequently asked questions about East Hunter Lake
Where is East Hunter Lake?
- East Hunter Lake is a lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of East Hunter Lake?
- East Hunter Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. East Hunter Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of East Hunter Lake?
- East Hunter Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at East Hunter Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 11, 2007 caught 8.50 northern pike per gill net at East Hunter Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–31 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows East Hunter Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at East Hunter Lake?
- Public access to East Hunter Lake is listed as no on the lake record, so confirm before you make the trip. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore East Hunter Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Sherburne County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near East Hunter Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder