North Stanchfield Lake
Isanti County, Minnesota157 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for North Stanchfield Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 11 ft max depth
- Limited data
North Stanchfield Lake in Isanti County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 190.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 54.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 156.83 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 29, 1991 caught 7.33 walleye per gill net at North Stanchfield Lake. DNR survey details →
North Stanchfield Lake is a 157-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Isanti County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 11 feet (6-foot average). Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 16 other monitored lakes in Isanti County, North Stanchfield Lake ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-12. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
North Stanchfield Lake covers about 160 acres in Isanti County. The median ice-out date is April 1, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around North Stanchfield Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What North Stanchfield Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 1
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Stanchfield Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether North Stanchfield Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for North Stanchfield Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for North Stanchfield Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 190.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 54.7 µg/L. TSI 71.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 191µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 54.7µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 71 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about North Stanchfield Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 29, 1991 caught 7.33 walleye per gill net at North Stanchfield Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Stanchfield Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1991-07-29 (Standard Survey).
3 surveys on file · most recent 1991-07-29 (Standard Survey)
35 years old| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 119.65 | 0.14 lb | |
| Golden Shiner | 8.07 | 0.08 lb | |
| Walleye | 7.33 | 0.71 lb | |
| Black Crappie | 7.13 | 0.23 lb | |
| Common Carp | 6.20 | 2.8 lb | |
| Yellow Perch | 5.34 | 0.18 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
From the 1991-07-29 survey
NORTH STANCHFIELD LAKE HAS BEEN SURVEYED FOUR TIMES SINCE 1960 (1974, 1979, 1986, 1991). DURING 1991, THE LAKE WAS ASSESSED WITH THREE GILLNETS, FOUR TRAPNETS, AND THREE SHORELINE AREAS WERE SEINED. THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS DESCRIBE THE GAMEFISH POPULATIONS IN NORTH STANCHFIELD LAKE. THE LAKE IS MANAGED AS A WARMWATER…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for North Stanchfield Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — North StanchfieldFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — North Stanchfield (1838)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — North StanchfieldFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
11 ft
Average depth
6 ft
Surface area
157 acres
Shoreline
3.5 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
No
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
18 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
948 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near North Stanchfield Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Stanchfield Lake in Isanti 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around North Stanchfield Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near North Stanchfield Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow North Stanchfield Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing North Stanchfield Lake
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 1
Earliest Mar 15, 2016 · Latest May 1, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 7, 2019 · Latest Dec 7, 2016
Most recent ice-out
Mar 25
2025
15 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
North Stanchfield Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the South Stanchfield Lake (completed 1939), built primarily for recreation on the Stanchfield Creek; gravity-type dam, 8 ft tall and 30 ft long.
- Surface area
- 363 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,582 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,378 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 10 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00528 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.75 km)
EPA Impairment Status
North Stanchfield Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN30-0143-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of North Stanchfield Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Rcs Acquisition, LlcDalbo · 3 mi away · NPDES MN0044628
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.
Nearby Lakes in Isanti County
Frequently asked questions about North Stanchfield Lake
Where is North Stanchfield Lake?
- North Stanchfield Lake is a lake in Isanti County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of North Stanchfield Lake?
- North Stanchfield Lake in Isanti County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 190.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 54.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 156.83 acres.
Is North Stanchfield Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Stanchfield Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is North Stanchfield Lake?
- North Stanchfield Lake has a maximum depth of 11 feet and an average depth of 6 feet. The lake covers 156.83 acres.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at North Stanchfield Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 29, 1991 caught 7.33 walleye per gill net at North Stanchfield Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Stanchfield Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does North Stanchfield Lake thaw?
- North Stanchfield Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 1. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 244 days.
Can I fish at North Stanchfield Lake?
- Public access to North Stanchfield Lake is listed as no on the lake record, so confirm before you make the trip. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore North Stanchfield Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Isanti County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Rum River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate