Sanburn Lake
Sanburn Lake in Cass County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 220.31 acres.
- Clarity
- 19 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 48 ft
- Area
- 220 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cass County
Why Sanburn 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 Sanburn 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.
Sanburn Lake is a 220-acre lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 48 feet. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-07-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Sanburn Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Sanburn Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 19 ft down. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 19 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Sanburn Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sanburn Lake in Cass 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 Sanburn Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Sanburn Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Jun (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2011–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sanburn Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 48 ft |
| Surface Area | 220 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| Public Access | Yes |
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 Sanburn Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-07 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| MMS | 465.27 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 49.31 | — |
| Bluegill | 31.86 | 0.16 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 10.04 | 0.53 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.11 | 0.48 lb |
| BCS | 8.13 | — |
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.
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
Largemouth Bass
From the 2022-07-07 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Sanborn Lake was conducted on July 21, 2022 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sanburn Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SanbornFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sanborn (1463)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SanbornFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SanbornPublic 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 | +0.042 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.8 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Sanburn 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 MN11-0308-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.86 km)
Graded lakes near Sanburn Lake
Sanburn Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Sanburn Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sanburn Lake?
- Sanburn Lake in Cass County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 220.31 acres.
Is Sanburn Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Sanburn 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 Sanburn Lake?
- Sanburn Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2019). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sanburn Lake?
- Sanburn Lake has a maximum depth of 48 feet. The lake covers 220.31 acres.
What fish are in Sanburn Lake?
- Fish species found in Sanburn Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Sanburn Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
Explore Sanburn 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 Cass County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Brainerd Lakes area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Pine River Watersheds (Brainerd Lakes), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA10 samples · 2020–2024
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