Little Sauk Lake
Little Sauk Lake in Todd County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 85 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 277.47 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 277 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 15
- Open water
- 229 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Little Sauk Lake →
Next lake in Todd County
Little Sauk Lake is a 277-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Todd County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Todd County, Little Sauk Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 5.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 85 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 23 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 85 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 23 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Sauk Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Sauk Lake in Todd 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Little Sauk Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Little Sauk Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Little Sauk Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 67°F) and coldest in Oct (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 87 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Sauk Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Average Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 277 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 58% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Sauk LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Sauk 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
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-09-17 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 36.08 | 0.15 lb |
| Black Crappie | 22.65 | 0.33 lb |
| Bluegill | 11.43 | 0.35 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.97 | 1.73 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 7.90 | 0.82 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 4.86 | 1.04 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 Crappie
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-09-17 survey
Fall Trap netting was performed September 17-18 to provide data on the Bluegill and Black Crappie size structures. "Conservation Regulations" were enacted in June of 2000 upon the development and opening of a public access site. The bag limits for sunfish and Black Crappie were reduced to 5 fish under these…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Sauk 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 SaukFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little SaukFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little SaukPublic 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 | ↑ Improving | +0.18 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.4 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.96 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
Estimated open water season: 229 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-06 (2005) | 2008-04-23 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2007-11-28 (2007) | 2008-12-20 (2008) |
Most recent ice-out: 2008-04-23
EPA Impairment Status
Little Sauk Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN77-0164-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 8 lakes in Todd County
Nearby Lakes in Todd County
Frequently asked questions about Little Sauk Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Sauk Lake?
- Little Sauk Lake in Todd County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 85 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 277.47 acres.
Is Little Sauk Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Little Sauk Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 23 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Sauk Lake?
- Little Sauk Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 87 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Sauk Lake?
- Little Sauk Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 277.47 acres.
What fish are in Little Sauk Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Sauk Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, redhorse, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Sauk Lake is located in Todd County, Minnesota.
When does Little Sauk Lake thaw?
- Little Sauk Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 229 days.
Are there boat ramps on Little Sauk Lake?
- Little Sauk Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Sauk Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Sauk Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Todd County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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State Parks Near Little Sauk Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
68 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA68 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate