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Sand Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Stone Lake. Both are in Wisconsin.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

Sand Lake and Stone Lake are both in Wisconsin — a same-state head-to-head where the comparison comes down to lake-specific differences in depth, watershed, and monitoring history rather than the broader state-level water-quality regime. These two sit close on the readings, Sand Lake versus Stone Lake. The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.

With readings this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.

Sand Lake

Sawyer County, Wisconsin

Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft.

Stone Lake

Washburn County, Wisconsin

Crystal clear, you can see 23 ft down.

Side-by-Side Metrics

MetricSand LakeStone Lake
Water Clarity10 ft23 ft Better
Phosphorus23.8 µg/L11.2 µg/L Better
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)4.1 µg/LNo data
Maximum Depth50 ft Better49 ft
Surface Area949 acres490 acres
Public AccessYesYes
Fish Species6 Better5
Trophic Statemesotrophicoligotrophic

A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.

Verdict

Sand Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Stone Lake. Water clarity: 10 ft vs 23 ft. For fishing diversity, Sand Lake also leads with 6 species.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.