West Graham Lake
West Graham Lake in Nobles County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 182 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 110.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 519.29 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 81°F
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 519 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 West Graham Lake →
Next lake in Nobles County
West Graham Lake is a 519-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Nobles County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Nobles County, West Graham Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-25. 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.
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)
Murky, only visible to about 4.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 182 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 110.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 182 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 110.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near West Graham Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Graham 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 West Graham Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near West Graham Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
West Graham Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full West Graham Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 519 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Kinbrae LakePublic
- West Graham Lake (East)Public
- West Graham Lake (North)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing West Graham Lake
EPA Impairment Status
West 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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN53-0021-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 5 lakes in Nobles County
Nearby Lakes in Nobles County
Frequently asked questions about West Graham Lake
What is the water quality grade for West Graham Lake?
- West Graham Lake in Nobles County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 182 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 110.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 519.29 acres.
Is West Graham 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. West Graham Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 110.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of West Graham Lake?
- West Graham Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August, from 11 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is West Graham Lake?
- West Graham Lake has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 519.29 acres.
What fish are in West Graham Lake?
- Fish species found in West Graham Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, quillback, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. West Graham Lake is located in Nobles County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on West Graham Lake?
- West Graham Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Kinbrae Lake, West Graham Lake (East), West Graham Lake (North). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore West Graham Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2025
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