Coon-Sandwick Lake
Coon-Sandwick Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 593.56 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 65°F
- Max depth
- 36 ft
- Area
- 594 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Coon-Sandwick Lake is a 594-acre mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 36 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Coon-Sandwick Lake ranks #41 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Coon-Sandwick Lake water quality
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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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Coon-Sandwick Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Coon-Sandwick Lake in Itasca 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.
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Water Temperature
Coon-Sandwick Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 66°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 60 field readings (2021–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Coon-Sandwick Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 36 ft |
| Surface Area | 594 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 85% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Coon Lake (North)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Coon-Sandwick Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 14.45 | 0.19 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.13 | 0.13 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.10 | 1.74 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.01 | 0.13 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 1.81 | 1.27 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.78 | 0.32 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
Pumpkinseed
From the 2022-07-11 survey
Coon-Sandwick Lake is a 627-acre lake located six miles southeast of Bigfork in north-central Itasca County. The lake is located entirely within Scenic State Park and there is no residential development on the lakeshore, other than the State Park campgrounds. Two boat accesses and a fishing pier are located within the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Coon-Sandwick Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Coon-SandwickFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Coon-SandwickFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Coon-SandwickPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Coon-Sandwick 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 MN31-0524-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.29 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Coon-Sandwick Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Mdnr Scenic State ParkBigfork · 0.7 mi away · NPDES MN0049891Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #41 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Coon-Sandwick Lake
What is the water quality grade for Coon-Sandwick Lake?
- Coon-Sandwick Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 593.56 acres.
Is Coon-Sandwick Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Coon-Sandwick Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Coon-Sandwick Lake?
- Coon-Sandwick Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August, from 60 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Coon-Sandwick Lake?
- Coon-Sandwick Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet. The lake covers 593.56 acres.
What fish are in Coon-Sandwick Lake?
- Fish species found in Coon-Sandwick Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Coon-Sandwick Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Coon-Sandwick Lake?
- Coon-Sandwick Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Coon Lake (North). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Coon-Sandwick Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
13 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
MNPCA13 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory