Sand Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Lenawee County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Lenawee County, Sand Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-10-04. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 13.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.3 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Sand Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sand Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.705 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.05 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Sand Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 53 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 8 lakes in Lenawee County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Sand Lake holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Lenawee County
Explore Sand Lake across LakeGrade
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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More records, surveys & data sources
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 MI041000020106-02 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Sand Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Lenawee Cdc-Wamplers Lk WwslTipton · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MI0053988Recent violation
- Lenawee Cdc-Loch Erin WwtpOnsted · 3.8 mi away · NPDES MI0053848Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-10-04
Monitoring stations: 1