Sand Lake
Sand Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 486.47 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 11 ft
- Area
- 486 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Lake County
Sand Lake is a 486-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 11 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including bluegill, burbot, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Sand Lake ranks #28 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Murky, only visible to about 4.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Sand Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sand Lake in Lake 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 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 39 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sand Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Sand Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (235,505 cells/mL) on June 6, 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 | 11 ft |
| Surface Area | 486 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 8.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| 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 Sand Lake
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 MN38-0735-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #28 of 35 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Sand Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 486.47 acres.
Is Sand Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Sand Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 39 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake has a maximum depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 486.47 acres.
What fish are in Sand Lake?
- Fish species found in Sand Lake include bluegill, burbot, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Sand Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
Does Sand Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Sand Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (235,505 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Explore Sand Lake across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA20 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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