Sand Lake
Sand Lake in Cass County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 149.17 acres.
- Clarity
- 20 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 54 ft
- Area
- 149 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 2
- Open water
- 209 days
Next lake in Cass County
Why Sand 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 Sand 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.
Sand Lake is a 149-acre lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 54 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-03. 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 Sand Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 20 ft down. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 20 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Sand Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sand 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 Sand Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Sand Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Oct (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 52 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sand Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 54 ft |
| Surface Area | 149 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 36% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- PontoPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sand Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-25 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| SUN | 31.34 | — |
| BCS | 27.50 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 25.82 | — |
| GOS | 22.00 | — |
| Bluegill | 9.79 | 0.15 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.12 | 0.84 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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2022-07-25 survey
Sand (Lower Sand) Lake is a 149-acre lake with 2 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 54 feet located southeast of Hackensack, MN. A public access is located on the Sand (Lower Sand) Lake is a 149-acre lake with 2 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 54 feet located southeast of Hackensack, MN. A public…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sand Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sand (1392)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SandFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.243 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.2 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.11 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (11 observations).
Estimated open water season: 209 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2021-04-06 (2021) | 2013-05-10 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2023-11-27 (2023) | 2024-12-04 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-05-02
EPA Impairment Status
Sand 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 MN11-0274-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.91 km)
Graded lakes near Sand Lake
Sand Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Sand Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake in Cass County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 149.17 acres.
Is Sand Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Sand 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 Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 52 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake has a maximum depth of 54 feet. The lake covers 149.17 acres.
What fish are in Sand Lake?
- Fish species found in Sand Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Sand Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
When does Sand Lake thaw?
- Sand Lake typically has ice-out around May 2. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 209 days.
Are there boat ramps on Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Ponto. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
116 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
MNPCA116 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate