Ocheda Lake
Ocheda Lake in Nobles County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 265 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 72.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 1691.34 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.6 ft
- Max depth
- 5 ft
- Area
- 1,691 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Ocheda Lake →
Next lake in Nobles County
Ocheda Lake is a 1,691-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Nobles County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 5 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Nobles County, Ocheda Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Ocheda 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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 265 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 72.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 76.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 265 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 72.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 76 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Ocheda Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ocheda Lake in Nobles 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 Ocheda Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Ocheda 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 | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,691 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 20.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Ocheda Lake (West)Public
- Ocheda Lake (East)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ocheda Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2009-06-01 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 39.47 | 0.19 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 27.05 | 0.24 lb |
| Bigmouth Buffalo | 24.30 | 1.17 lb |
| Common Carp | 18.38 | 3.59 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.20 | 2.74 lb |
| White Sucker | 4.85 | 1.22 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
Bigmouth Buffalo
Common Carp
From the 2009-06-01 survey
Ocheda is a 1,700-acre lake located 2 miles south of Worthington in Nobles County. The lake has a maximum depth of 5 feet, 21 miles of shoreline, and is a class 41 lake. The lake is managed primarily for northern pike while yellow perch and walleye are managed secondarily. Local riparian owners and the Okabena-Ocheda…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ocheda Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OchedaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — OchedaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — OchedaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Ocheda 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 MN53-0024-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.38 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 5 lakes in Nobles County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Ocheda Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Nobles County
Frequently asked questions about Ocheda Lake
What is the water quality grade for Ocheda Lake?
- Ocheda Lake in Nobles County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 265 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 72.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 1691.34 acres.
Is Ocheda Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Ocheda Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 72.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Ocheda Lake?
- Ocheda Lake has a maximum depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 1691.34 acres.
What fish are in Ocheda Lake?
- Fish species found in Ocheda Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, orangespotted sunfish, white crappie, white sucker, yellow perch. Ocheda Lake is located in Nobles County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Ocheda Lake?
- Ocheda Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Ocheda Lake (West), Ocheda Lake (East). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Ocheda 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 Nobles County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Ocheda Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2022
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