East Leaf Lake
East Leaf Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 43 ft. Surface area: 404.14 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 64°F
- Max depth
- 43 ft
- Area
- 404 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 14
- Open water
- 233 days
Next lake in Otter Tail County
East Leaf Lake is a 404-acre mesotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 43 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 19 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 Leaf Lake ranks #60 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 onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near East Leaf Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near East Leaf 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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Water Temperature
East Leaf Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 64°F) and coldest in May (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 78 field readings (2017–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full East Leaf Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 43 ft |
| Surface Area | 404 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 45% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- East Leaf LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing East Leaf 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-20 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 20.37 | 0.18 lb |
| BCS | 15.02 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 13.76 | 0.12 lb |
| BNS | 12.63 | — |
| CNM | 10.43 | — |
| Green Sunfish | 8.95 | — |
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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
From the 2022-07-20 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Middle Leaf Lake was conducted on July 20, 2022 by Fergus Falls Area Fisheries Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Electrofishing was…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for East Leaf Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Middle LeafFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Middle LeafFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Middle LeafPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.097 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.87 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.81 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
Estimated open water season: 233 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2004-04-07 (2004) | 2008-04-23 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-21 (2003) | 2004-12-10 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2014-04-23
EPA Impairment Status
East Leaf 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 MN56-0116-02 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #60 of 66 lakes in Otter Tail County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
East Leaf Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about East Leaf Lake
What is the water quality grade for East Leaf Lake?
- East Leaf Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 43 ft. Surface area: 404.14 acres.
Is East Leaf Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. East Leaf Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of East Leaf Lake?
- East Leaf Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August, from 78 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is East Leaf Lake?
- East Leaf Lake has a maximum depth of 43 feet. The lake covers 404.14 acres.
What fish are in East Leaf Lake?
- Fish species found in East Leaf Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, greater redhorse, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. East Leaf Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
When does East Leaf Lake thaw?
- East Leaf Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 14. Ice typically forms around Dec 3. The open water season is approximately 233 days.
Are there boat ramps on East Leaf Lake?
- East Leaf Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include East Leaf Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore East Leaf Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
178 measurements from 3 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
MNPCA178 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 (3)
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