Graham Lake
Graham Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 216.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.4 ft
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 217 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Why Graham 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 Graham Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, 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.
Graham Lake is a 217-acre lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-07-17. 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 Graham Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 25.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.7 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Graham Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Graham Lake in Otter Tail 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 Graham Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 217 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 58% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Town LakePublic
- Acorn LakePublic
- Eagle LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Graham Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2002-06-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 26.80 | 0.31 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 12.98 | 0.57 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 12.00 | 0.1 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 8.28 | 0.21 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.96 | 0.21 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.83 | 1.93 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
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Hybrid Sunfish
From the 2002-06-10 survey
Graham Lake is a 210-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in north-central Otter Tail County one mile southwest of Frazee, MN. The northern portion of the lake is located within Becker County. Graham Lake is connected to Wimar Lake via a culvert under a township road along the southeast shoreline. The…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Graham Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GrahamFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.113 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.67 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.11 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Graham Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0265-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.36 km)
Graded lakes near Graham Lake
Graham Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Graham Lake
What is the water quality grade for Graham Lake?
- Graham Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 216.8 acres.
Is Graham Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Graham Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Graham Lake?
- Graham Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 216.8 acres.
What fish are in Graham Lake?
- Fish species found in Graham Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Graham Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Graham Lake?
- Graham Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Town Lake, Acorn Lake, Eagle Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Graham Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
6 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
MNPCA6 samples · 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