Coon-Sandwick Lake

Coon-Sandwick Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Itasca County. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Coon-Sandwick Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. A maximum depth of 36 ft puts Coon-Sandwick Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. The lake's 594 acres and 9.3 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Among the 141 graded lakes in Itasca County, Coon-Sandwick Lake sits at rank 55, above the county median.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Coon-Sandwick Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 9 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.