East Toqua Lake
Big Stone County, Minnesota437 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for East Toqua Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 9 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
East Toqua Lake in Big Stone County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 703 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 33.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 436.65 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 10, 2023 caught 9.43 walleye per trap net at East Toqua Lake. DNR survey details →
East Toqua Lake is a 437-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Big Stone County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 9 feet (6-foot average). The lake supports 15 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Big Stone County, East Toqua Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-29. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
East Toqua Lake covers about 440 acres in Big Stone County. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around East Toqua Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What East Toqua Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing15 species recorded
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 Toqua Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether East Toqua 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 Toqua Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for East Toqua Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 703 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 33.7 µg/L. TSI 78.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 1.6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 703µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 33.7µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 78 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about East Toqua Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
East Toqua Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Sep (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 (79°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full East Toqua Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 10, 2023 caught 9.43 walleye per trap net at East Toqua Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows East Toqua Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-10 (Targeted Survey).
15 surveys on file · most recent 2023-07-10 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 860.71 | ||
| Black Bullhead | 63.04 | 6–9 in 2023-07-10 | 0.44 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
From the 2023-07-10 survey
East Toqua Lake borders Graceville in west-central Minnesota. It is 428 acres and has a maximum depth of nine feet. The lake is highly productive and water clarity is often low. Toqua County Park is located along the south shoreline and it provides a boat launch, fishing pier, shore angling, picnicking and camping.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for East Toqua Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — East ToquaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — East ToquaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — East ToquaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
9 ft
Average depth
6 ft
Surface area
437 acres
Shoreline
3.1 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
24 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,086 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- East Toqua Lake (South)Public
- East Toqua Lake (North)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near East Toqua Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near East Toqua Lake in Big Stone 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around East Toqua Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near East Toqua 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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing East Toqua Lake
EPA Impairment Status
East Toqua 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: Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN06-0138-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of East Toqua Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Graceville WwtpGraceville · 1 mi away · NPDES MN0023540Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Big Stone County
Frequently asked questions about East Toqua Lake
Where is East Toqua Lake?
- East Toqua Lake is a lake in Big Stone 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 Toqua Lake?
- East Toqua Lake in Big Stone County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 703 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 33.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 436.65 acres.
Is East Toqua Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. East Toqua Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of East Toqua Lake?
- East Toqua Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in September, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is East Toqua Lake?
- East Toqua Lake has a maximum depth of 9 feet and an average depth of 6 feet. The lake covers 436.65 acres.
What fish are in East Toqua Lake?
- Fish species found in East Toqua Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, crappie, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, quillback, suckers, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. East Toqua Lake is located in Big Stone County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at East Toqua Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 10, 2023 caught 9.43 walleye per trap net at East Toqua Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows East Toqua Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on East Toqua Lake?
- East Toqua Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include East Toqua Lake (South), East Toqua Lake (North). Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at East Toqua Lake?
- East Toqua Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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 Toqua Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Big Stone County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near East Toqua Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA12 samples · 2021
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory