Lower Elk Lake
Lower Elk Lake in Grant County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 131.36 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 13 ft
- Area
- 131 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lower Elk Lake →
Next lake in Grant County
Lower Elk Lake is a 131-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Grant County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 13 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-29. 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 1.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 58.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 28.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 58.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lower Elk Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Elk Lake in Grant 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 Lower Elk Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lower Elk Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Lower Elk Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 43 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lower Elk Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 13 ft |
| Average Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 131 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lower Elk LakePublic
- Elk LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lower Elk Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-05-03 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 44.08 | 0.5 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 20.70 | 0.19 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.73 | 1.18 lb |
| Bluegill | 8.34 | 0.17 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.12 | 0.1 lb |
| Walleye | 2.39 | 2.29 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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
From the 2023-05-03 survey
This targeted survey was completed to determine extent of winterkill following the severe 2022-2023 winter. Trap netting results indicated winterkill severity was high. Only two species (Black Bullhead and Yellow Perch) were captured. Due to frequency of winterkill on this basin, future management will focus on…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lower Elk Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Lower ElkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Lower ElkFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.071 m/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lower Elk 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 MN26-0046-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Grant County
Nearby Lakes in Grant County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Elk Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lower Elk Lake?
- Lower Elk Lake in Grant County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 131.36 acres.
Is Lower Elk 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. Lower Elk Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 28.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lower Elk Lake?
- Lower Elk Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 43 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lower Elk Lake?
- Lower Elk Lake has a maximum depth of 13 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 131.36 acres.
What fish are in Lower Elk Lake?
- Fish species found in Lower Elk Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Lower Elk Lake is located in Grant County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Lower Elk Lake?
- Lower Elk Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lower Elk Lake, Elk Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA16 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by 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