Sagatagan Lake
Sagatagan Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 227.37 acres.
- Clarity
- 17 ft
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 227 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 9
- Open water
- 230 days
Next lake in Stearns County
Why Sagatagan 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 Sagatagan 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.
Sagatagan Lake is a 227-acre lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 42 feet (9-foot average). The lake supports 1 documented fish species including largemouth bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. 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 Sagatagan Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 17 ft down. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Sagatagan Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sagatagan Lake in Stearns 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 Sagatagan Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Average Depth | 8.9 ft |
| Surface Area | 227 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 50% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sagatagan Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2000-08-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Bass | 15.00 | 0.47 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.61 | 0.18 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.48 | 0.93 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.47 | 1.75 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.04 | 0.2 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.60 | 0.25 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 Bass
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2000-08-07 survey
Sagatagan Lake is located in Stearns County, three miles west of St. Joseph, and entirely within the campus of St. John's University. The lake is 159 acres in size, has a mean depth of 8.9 feet and a maximum depth of 42 feet. There is no public access. It is a typical bass-panfish lake with high numbers of bass,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sagatagan Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SagataganFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sagatagan (0287)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.031 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (94 observations).
Estimated open water season: 230 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-15 (2000) | 2013-05-07 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-04 (1991) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2018-05-03
EPA Impairment Status
Sagatagan 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 MN73-0092-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Sagatagan Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Order Of Saint Benedict/St. John'S - Power PlantCollegeville · 0.5 mi away · NPDES MN0046035Recent violation
- Order Of St Benedict WwtpCollegeville · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MN0022411Recent violation
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.
Graded lakes near Sagatagan Lake
Sagatagan Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Sagatagan Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sagatagan Lake?
- Sagatagan Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 227.37 acres.
Is Sagatagan Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Sagatagan Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Sagatagan Lake?
- Sagatagan Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet and an average depth of 8.9 feet. The lake covers 227.37 acres.
What fish are in Sagatagan Lake?
- Fish species found in Sagatagan Lake include largemouth bass. Sagatagan Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
When does Sagatagan Lake thaw?
- Sagatagan Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 9. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 230 days.
Explore Sagatagan Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Where this data comes from
26 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
MNPCA26 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
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