Sand Lake
Sand Lake in Iron County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 99 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 99 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Iron 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 WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Sand Lake is a 99-acre lake in Iron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 35 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-09. 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.
Good clarity, visible to about 14.2 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | 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 Iron County, Wisconsin — 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 Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Sand Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sand Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Surface Area | 99 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Sturgeon BayPublic
- Trude LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sand Lake
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2021. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.558 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.47 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Sand Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10003728 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.91 km)
Graded lakes near Sand Lake
Sand Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
Frequently asked questions about Sand Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake in Iron County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 99 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 74°F at the surface in August, from 25 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lake covers 99 acres.
What fish are in Sand Lake?
- Fish species found in Sand Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Sand Lake is located in Iron County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sturgeon Bay, Trude Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Sand Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
41 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX41 samples · 2021–2026
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory