Little Sand Lake
Little Sand Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 209.75 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.4 ft
- Max depth
- 44 ft
- Area
- 210 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Little Sand Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Little Sand Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Little Sand Lake is a 210-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 44 feet. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-06-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Little Sand Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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.
Top-rated places to stay near Little Sand Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 44 ft |
| Surface Area | 210 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 55% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lammon Aid LakePublic
- Little Sand LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Sand Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-07-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 10.60 | 0.22 lb |
| Black Crappie | 4.04 | 0.26 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 3.85 | 1.67 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.16 | 2.06 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 1.62 | 0.64 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.51 | 0.26 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
Black Crappie
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2018-07-09 survey
Little Sand Lake is a 213-acre lake located 11 miles east of Grand Rapids. A county owned cement public access is located off Highway 70 on the northeast shore with parking for two boats with trailers. Little Sand Lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet and 54% of the lake is 15 feet or less. The lake has moderately hard…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Sand Lake. 4 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 (0575)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Sand (2073)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little SandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Graded lakes near Little Sand Lake
Little Sand Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
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 is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 209.75 acres.
Is Little Sand Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Little Sand Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Little Sand Lake?
- Little Sand Lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet. The lake covers 209.75 acres.
What fish are in Little Sand Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Sand Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, 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 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lammon Aid Lake, Little Sand Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA5 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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