Sand Lake
Sand Lake in Lake County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 35 acres.
- Clarity
- 19 ft
- Max depth
- 50 ft
- Area
- 35 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Why Sand Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: 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 EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Sand Lake is a 35-acre lake in Lake County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 50 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2018-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality 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 are not enough 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 Sand Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sand Lake in Lake County, Michigan — 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 50 ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
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 Sand Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.21 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Sand Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Midget Lake Dam, built primarily for recreation on the Tributary to Stronach Creek; concrete-type dam, 8 ft tall and 46 ft long.
- Surface area
- 35 ac
- Normal storage
- 64 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 152 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Twin Lakes Property Owners Assoc.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00888 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.71 km)
Graded lakes near Sand Lake
Sand Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Sand Lake
Where is Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake is a lake in Lake County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — 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.
What is the water quality grade for Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake in Lake County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 35 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.
How deep is Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake has a maximum depth of 50 feet. The lake covers 35 acres.
What fish are in Sand Lake?
- Fish species found in Sand Lake include Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Iowa darter, Largemouth bass, White sucker, Yellow perch. Sand Lake is located in Lake County, Michigan.
Explore Sand Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2017–2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS16 samples · 2017–2018
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)