Little Sandy Lake
Little Sandy Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 19 µg/L.
- Mean depth
- ~11 ft est.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
Next lake in St. Louis County
Little Sandy Lake is a mesotrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 11 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Little Sandy Lake ranks #42 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 19 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 19 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Sandy Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Sandy Lake in St. Louis 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 Sandy Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~11 ft est. |
| Public Access | No |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Little Sandy Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Little Sandy Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.25 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Little Sandy 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 MN69-0729-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Little Sandy Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Us Steel Corp-Minntac WwtfMountain Iron · 3.8 mi away · NPDES MN0050504
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 #42 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Little Sandy Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Sandy Lake?
- Little Sandy Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 19 µg/L.
Is Little Sandy Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Little Sandy Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Little Sandy Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Little Sandy Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 11 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
29 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA29 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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