Little Split Hand Lake
Little Split Hand Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 243.91 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 244 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 9
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Little Split Hand 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 Split Hand Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not 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 Split Hand Lake is a 244-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-29. 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 Split Hand Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Split Hand Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Split Hand 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 Split Hand Lake
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Water Temperature
Little Split Hand Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2023–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Split Hand Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 244 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 57% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Split Hand LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Split Hand Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
17 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 18.59 | 0.15 lb |
| Black Crappie | 18.40 | 0.35 lb |
| Bluegill | 15.28 | 0.27 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.26 | 1.82 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.07 | 2.43 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.94 | 2.26 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.
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
Bluegill
Northern Pike
From the 2024-06-10 survey
Little Split Hand Lake is a shallow lake located 16 miles southeast of Grand Rapids, MN. It has moderately clear and fertile water. The 2019 lake management plan (LMP) listed Black Crappie and Bluegill as primary management species and Northern Pike as a secondary management species. Management goals included:…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Split Hand Lake. 5 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little Split HandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Split Hand (0550)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Split Hand (2053)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little Split HandFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little Split HandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.008 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2021-03-31 (2021) | 2018-05-03 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-07 (2017) | 2018-11-17 (2018) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-05
EPA Impairment Status
Little Split Hand Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN31-0353-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.61 km)
Graded lakes near Little Split Hand Lake
Little Split Hand Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Little Split Hand Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Split Hand Lake?
- Little Split Hand Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 243.91 acres.
Is Little Split Hand Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Little Split Hand Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Split Hand Lake?
- Little Split Hand Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Split Hand Lake?
- Little Split Hand Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 243.91 acres.
What fish are in Little Split Hand Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Split Hand Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Split Hand Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Little Split Hand Lake thaw?
- Little Split Hand Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 9.
Are there boat ramps on Little Split Hand Lake?
- Little Split Hand Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Split Hand Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Split Hand Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
42 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
MNPCA42 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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