East Silent Lake
East Silent Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 19.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 323.6 acres.
- Clarity
- 19.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 78°F
- Max depth
- 48 ft
- Area
- 324 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 14
Next lake in Otter Tail County
East Silent Lake is a 324-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 48 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, East Silent Lake ranks #45 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 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)
Crystal clear, you can see 19.2 ft down. Phosphorus level: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 19.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near East Silent Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near East Silent 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 Silent 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 May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 24 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full East Silent Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 48 ft |
| Surface Area | 324 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 18% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Star Lake (North)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing East Silent 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
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-01 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 26.48 | 0.15 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.88 | 0.18 lb |
| Rock Bass | 11.09 | 0.38 lb |
| Walleye | 9.72 | 1.48 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 8.85 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 3.07 | 1.09 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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Walleye
From the 2022-08-01 survey
East Silent Lake is a 310-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in north-central Otter Tail County approximately six miles west of Dent, MN. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth is 45 feet; however, 18% of the lake is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for East Silent Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — East SilentFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — East Silent (0968)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — East SilentFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — East SilentPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.079 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.09 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.02 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (5 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-04-11 (2015) | 2002-04-16 (2002) |
| Ice-In | 2004-12-14 (2004) | 2001-12-21 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2015-04-11
County Ranking
Ranked #45 of 66 lakes in Otter Tail County
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about East Silent Lake
What is the water quality grade for East Silent Lake?
- East Silent Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 19.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 323.6 acres.
Is East Silent Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. East Silent Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of East Silent Lake?
- East Silent Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 24 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is East Silent Lake?
- East Silent Lake has a maximum depth of 48 feet. The lake covers 323.6 acres.
What fish are in East Silent Lake?
- Fish species found in East Silent Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. East Silent Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
When does East Silent Lake thaw?
- East Silent Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 14.
Are there boat ramps on East Silent Lake?
- East Silent Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Star Lake (North). Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
63 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA63 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 (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
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