Little Elbow Lake
Little Elbow Lake in Mahnomen County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 167.86 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 168 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Mahnomen County
Little Elbow Lake is a 168-acre mesotrophic lake in Mahnomen County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Mahnomen County, Little Elbow Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Little Elbow Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Elbow Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Elbow Lake in Mahnomen 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 Little Elbow Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 168 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 71% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Little Elbow Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1987-07-23 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 51.46 | 0.25 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 13.83 | 0.09 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.72 | 0.27 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 4.00 | 0.39 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 2.75 | 0.05 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.62 | 2.21 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1987-07-23 survey
BLUEGILL DOMINATE THE FISH POPULATION STRUCTURE WITH NEARLY 140/TRAP NET SET. BLUEGILL APPEAR TO BE STUNTED WITH THE LENGTH MODE BEING APPROXIMATE- LY 4.2 STATE AND LOCAL MEDIANS WITH A VARIETY OF SIZES WHICH WOULD INDICATE ADEQUATE NATURAL REPRODUCTION BLACK CRAPPIE WERE ALSO QUITE PREVALENT BUT ALSO ARE OF A…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Elbow Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little ElbowFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Elbow (1945)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 12 lakes in Mahnomen County
Nearby Lakes in Mahnomen County
Frequently asked questions about Little Elbow Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Elbow Lake?
- Little Elbow Lake in Mahnomen County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 167.86 acres.
Is Little Elbow Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Little Elbow Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Little Elbow Lake?
- Little Elbow Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake covers 167.86 acres.
Explore Little Elbow Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Mahnomen County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Little Elbow Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
34 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX34 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder