Eden Lake
Eden Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 179.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27 µg/L. Maximum depth: 77 ft. Surface area: 278.23 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in August
- 60°F
- Max depth
- 77 ft
- Area
- 278 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 7
- Open water
- 236 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Eden Lake →
Next lake in Stearns County
Eden Lake is a 278-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 77 feet (19-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, Eden Lake ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-10-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 179.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 27 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 179.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 27 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Eden Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Eden Lake in Stearns 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Eden Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Eden Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Eden Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 57°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 60°F) and coldest in May (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 190 field readings (2018–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Eden Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 77 ft |
| Average Depth | 18.6 ft |
| Surface Area | 278 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 45% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Eden LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Eden Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-10 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 48.96 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 31.48 | 0.5 lb |
| Bluegill | 20.35 | 0.24 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 19.47 | 1.39 lb |
| Black Crappie | 13.48 | 0.25 lb |
| CNM | 6.05 | — |
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
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-06-10 survey
Eden Lake is located in south-central Stearns County, north of Eden Valley. It is the second in a series of lakes that outlet north to join the Sauk River Chain of Lakes. A large, mostly agricultural watershed (over 24,000 acres) drains into Eden Lake. The resulting nutrient load has resulted in impaired water…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Eden Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — EdenFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — EdenFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — EdenPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (94 observations).
Estimated open water season: 236 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2001-03-09 (2001) | 2013-05-06 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-04 (1991) | 1998-12-21 (1998) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-18
EPA Impairment Status
Eden Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN73-0150-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 32 lakes in Stearns County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Eden Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Eden Lake
What is the water quality grade for Eden Lake?
- Eden Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 179.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27 µg/L. Maximum depth: 77 ft. Surface area: 278.23 acres.
Is Eden Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Eden Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 27 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Eden Lake?
- Eden Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August, from 190 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Eden Lake?
- Eden Lake has a maximum depth of 77 feet and an average depth of 18.6 feet. The lake covers 278.23 acres.
What fish are in Eden Lake?
- Fish species found in Eden Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Eden Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
When does Eden Lake thaw?
- Eden Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 236 days.
Are there boat ramps on Eden Lake?
- Eden Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Eden Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Eden Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Stearns County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Eden Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA36 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate