East Twin Lake
East Twin Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 172.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.2 ft
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 173 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cook County
East Twin Lake is a 173-acre mesotrophic lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet (8-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including walleye and white sucker. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Cook County, East Twin Lake ranks #37 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch East Twin Lake water quality
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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)
Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | 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 Cook 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Average Depth | 8.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 173 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 93% |
| 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
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2005-08-16 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 23.39 | 1.69 lb |
| Walleye | 14.83 | 0.78 lb |
| CRC | 12.83 | — |
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.
White Sucker
Walleye
From the 2005-08-16 survey
Walleye abundance in East Twin Lake in 2005 was high compared to similar lakes, but the gill net catch in this assessment was lower than past catches observed in this lake. Although walleye as large as 25.5 inches were taken, most were smaller than 14 inches. All of the walleye collected in 2005 had been produced…
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 (1604)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — East TwinPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.03 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
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 MN16-0194-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.72 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #37 of 44 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
East Twin 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 Cook County
Frequently asked questions about East Twin Lake
What is the water quality grade for East Twin Lake?
- East Twin Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 172.8 acres.
Is East Twin Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. East Twin Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is East Twin Lake?
- East Twin Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet and an average depth of 8.3 feet. The lake covers 172.8 acres.
What fish are in East Twin Lake?
- Fish species found in East Twin Lake include walleye, white sucker. East Twin Lake is located in Cook 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.
Explore East Twin Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
42 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA42 samples · 2021–2023
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
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