East Lost Lake
East Lost Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 447.07 acres.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 447 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 20
- Open water
- 218 days
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Why East Lost Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For East Lost Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
East Lost Lake is a 447-acre lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for East Lost Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near East Lost Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near East Lost 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.
Top-rated places to stay near East Lost Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
East Lost Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 140 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full East Lost Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 447 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 68% |
| Public Access | Yes |
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 Lost 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: 2024-06-10 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 25.12 | 0.12 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.66 | 0.78 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.68 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.78 | 0.2 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.33 | 1.06 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 3.31 | 0.73 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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Pumpkinseed
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-06-10 survey
Deer Lake is a 457-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in central Otter Tail County approximately five miles north of Battle Lake, MN. Deer Lake is connected to Otter Tail Lake via the Otter Tail River. The immediate watershed is composed primarily 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 Lost Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DeerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Deer (1164)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — DeerFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — DeerPublic 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 | → Stable | -0.053 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.47 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.27 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (13 observations).
Estimated open water season: 218 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-15 (2024) | 2023-04-30 (2023) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-10 (2018) | 2016-12-07 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-15
EPA Impairment Status
East Lost Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN56-0378-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.16 km)
Graded lakes near East Lost Lake
East Lost Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about East Lost Lake
What is the water quality grade for East Lost Lake?
- East Lost Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 447.07 acres.
Is East Lost Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. East Lost Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of East Lost Lake?
- East Lost Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 140 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is East Lost Lake?
- East Lost Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 447.07 acres.
What fish are in East Lost Lake?
- Fish species found in East Lost Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. East Lost Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
When does East Lost Lake thaw?
- East Lost Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 218 days.
Explore East Lost Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
166 measurements from 4 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
MNPCA166 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate