Twin Lakes East
Lake County, ColoradoView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- #1 of 4 in the county
- 105 ft max depth
- Limited data
Twin Lakes East in Lake County, Colorado has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 14.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 46 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 14.1 ft
- Max depth
- ~105 ft est.
- Type
- Oligotrophic
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Twin Lakes East is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Lake County, Colorado with an estimated average depth of about 105 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Twin Lakes East ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, CDPHE, last sampled 2024-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Twin Lakes East is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14.1 ft of visibility
- Camping1 public campground nearby
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.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Twin Lakes East is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for metals (other than mercury). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 14.1 ft. Phosphorus 46 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.3 µg/L. TSI 44. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 46 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~105 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~40 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Colorado has not published bathymetry for Twin Lakes East.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Twin Lakes East
- Dexter1.4 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Twin Lakes East
EPA Impairment Status
Twin Lakes East is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit COARUA30_B · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.46 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Twin Lakes East
Where is Twin Lakes East?
- Twin Lakes East is a lake in Lake County, Colorado. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Twin Lakes East?
- Twin Lakes East in Lake County, Colorado has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 14.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 46 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.3 µg/L.
Is Twin Lakes East safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Twin Lakes East is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for metals (other than mercury). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Twin Lakes East?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Twin Lakes East, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 105 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there campgrounds on Twin Lakes East?
- Twin Lakes East has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Dexter. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Twin Lakes East across LakeQuality
2 thermal springs within 19.8 mi, nearest Rhodes Warm Spring
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Colorado's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Other Grade C Lakes in Colorado
Oligotrophic Lakes in Colorado
Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment-WQCD
21COL001_WQX18 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Secchi disk depth measurement
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrogen in Water by Pyrolysis Detection
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles