Little Sand Lake
Little Sand Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 353.36 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 353 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Little Sand Lake is a 353-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Little Sand Lake ranks #54 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 11.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Sand Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Sand 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
Little Sand Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 74°F) and coldest in May (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 33 field readings (2019–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Sand Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Surface Area | 353 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 65% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Sand LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Sand 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: 2016-06-20 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BLH | 44.00 | 0.51 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 12.25 | 0.25 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 6.95 | 0.39 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.92 | 0.51 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 5.12 | 0.71 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.05 | 1.28 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.
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Brown Bullhead
From the 2016-06-20 survey
Little Sand Lake is located approximately six miles northeast of Squaw Lake, MN, and within the Big Fork River Watershed. The 361 acre lake of which 231 acres is less than 15 feet deep, a 19 foot maximum depth and is moderately developed along the 3.6 mile shoreline. A state owned public access is located just north…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Sand Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little SandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Sand (0846)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little SandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.25 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #54 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Little Sand Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Little Sand Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Sand Lake?
- Little Sand Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 353.36 acres.
Is Little Sand Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Little Sand Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 11.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Sand Lake?
- Little Sand Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 33 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Sand Lake?
- Little Sand Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 353.36 acres.
What fish are in Little Sand Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Sand Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, northern pike, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Sand Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Little Sand Lake?
- Little Sand Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Sand Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Sand Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA30 samples · 2020–2021
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory