Esther Lake
Esther Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 77.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.5 ft
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 78 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 13
Next lake in Cook County
Why Esther Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Esther Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Esther Lake is a 78-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet (16-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including rainbow trout, splake, and white sucker. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Esther Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Esther Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Esther 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Esther Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Average Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 78 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 45% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Esther Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-10-28 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 19.89 | — |
| White Sucker | 6.20 | 1.02 lb |
| SPT | 4.45 | 0.47 lb |
| BST | 4.28 | — |
| IOD | 3.65 | — |
| Brook Trout | 2.88 | 2.09 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.
White Sucker
SPT
From the 2024-10-28 survey
Esther Lake is a small, 78-acre lake with a maximum depth of 35 ft and is located approximately 15 miles northwest of Hovland. There is a small boat access and a couple of camp sites located on the northeast side of the lake. Esther Lake is a designated stream trout lake and has been actively stocked with rainbow…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Esther Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — EstherFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Esther (1836)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — EstherFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — EstherPublic 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 | ↓ Declining | -0.236 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (4 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2011-05-13 (2011) | 2011-05-13 (2011) |
| Ice-In | 2023-11-02 (2023) | 2023-11-02 (2023) |
Most recent ice-out: 2011-05-13
EPA Impairment Status
Esther 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 MN16-0023-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Esther Lake
Esther Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Esther Lake
What is the water quality grade for Esther Lake?
- Esther Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 77.5 acres.
Is Esther Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Esther Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Esther Lake?
- Esther Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 77.5 acres.
What fish are in Esther Lake?
- Fish species found in Esther Lake include rainbow trout, splake, white sucker. Esther Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
When does Esther Lake thaw?
- Esther Lake typically has ice-out around May 13.
Explore Esther Lake across LakeGrade
10.7 mi away · 50 ft
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Where this data comes from
79 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA79 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate