Sand Hill Lake
Sand Hill Lake in Polk County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 479.19 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 479 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Polk County
Sand Hill Lake is a 479-acre mesotrophic lake in Polk County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Sand Hill Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Sand Hill Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sand Hill Lake in Polk 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.
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Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Sand Hill Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (38,019 cells/mL) on June 27, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 479 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Sand Hill LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sand Hill Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-07-17 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BLH | 127.00 | 0.01 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 57.01 | 0.29 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 48.99 | — |
| Walleye | 23.63 | 0.1 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 17.44 | 0.4 lb |
| GOS | 15.93 | — |
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.
BLH
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
From the 2018-07-17 survey
A Targeted Survey was completed on Sand Hill Lake on July 17, 2018 to assess the near-shore fish community. This data will be analyzed in conjunction with the Standard Survey that was completed in 2017 to evaluate the biological condition of Sand Hill Lake, and contribute to the assessment of the watershed. Ten sites…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sand Hill Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Sand HillFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sand Hill (0106)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Sand HillPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.13 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.7 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.46 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Sand Hill Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Sand Hill Lake (completed 1956), built primarily for recreation on the Sand Hill River; other-type dam, 8 ft tall and 37 ft long.
- Surface area
- 510 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,904 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,880 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7.5 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR-Fisheries
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00227 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 19 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Sand Hill Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Sand Hill Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sand Hill Lake?
- Sand Hill Lake in Polk County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 479.19 acres.
Is Sand Hill Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Sand Hill Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Sand Hill Lake?
- Sand Hill Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 479.19 acres.
What fish are in Sand Hill Lake?
- Fish species found in Sand Hill Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, brown bullhead, northern pike, white sucker, yellow perch. Sand Hill Lake is located in Polk County, Minnesota.
Does Sand Hill Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Sand Hill Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (38,019 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Sand Hill Lake?
- Sand Hill Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sand Hill Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Sand Hill 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 Polk County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Minnesota Lake Rankings
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Where this data comes from
59 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA59 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory