East Twin Lake
East Twin Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 68 ft. Surface area: 91.99 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 68 ft
- Area
- 92 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Anoka County
East Twin Lake is a 92-acre mesotrophic lake in Anoka County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 68 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Anoka County, East Twin Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch East Twin Lake water quality
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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)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 18.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near East Twin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near East Twin Lake in Anoka 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 Twin Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 70°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 58 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full East Twin Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 68 ft |
| Surface Area | 92 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 59% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- East Twin LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing East Twin Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-08 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 27.26 | 0.13 lb |
| BCS | 18.72 | — |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.22 | 0.15 lb |
| GOS | 6.01 | 0.07 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 5.72 | 0.59 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 5.58 | 0.77 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
Pumpkinseed
GOS
Yellow Bass
From the 2024-07-08 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in East Twin Lake was conducted on July 8 - 10, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program 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.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for East Twin 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 TwinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — East Twin (1857)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — East TwinPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.283 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.83 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.57 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
East Twin 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 MN02-0133-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 23 lakes in Anoka County
Nearby Lakes in Anoka County
Frequently asked questions about East Twin Lake
What is the water quality grade for East Twin Lake?
- East Twin Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 68 ft. Surface area: 91.99 acres.
Is East Twin Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. East Twin Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of East Twin Lake?
- East Twin Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 58 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is East Twin Lake?
- East Twin Lake has a maximum depth of 68 feet. The lake covers 91.99 acres.
What fish are in East Twin Lake?
- Fish species found in East Twin Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. East Twin Lake is located in Anoka County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on East Twin Lake?
- East Twin Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include East Twin Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
79 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA79 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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
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