North Stanchfield Lake
North Stanchfield Lake in Isanti County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). 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.
- Clarity
- 2.8 ft
- Max depth
- 11 ft
- Area
- 157 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 1
- Open water
- 244 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near North Stanchfield Lake →
Next lake in Isanti County
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). Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 190.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 54.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 190.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 54.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around North Stanchfield Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near North Stanchfield Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 11 ft |
| Average Depth | 6 ft |
| Surface Area | 157 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing North Stanchfield Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1991-07-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 119.65 | 0.14 lb |
| GOS | 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, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (15 observations).
Estimated open water season: 244 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-15 (2016) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-07 (2019) | 2016-12-07 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-25
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 17 lakes in Isanti County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
North Stanchfield Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Isanti County
Frequently asked questions about North Stanchfield Lake
What is the water quality grade for North Stanchfield Lake?
- North Stanchfield Lake in Isanti County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). 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?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. North Stanchfield Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 54.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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.
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.
Explore North Stanchfield Lake across LakeGrade
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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)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate