Sand Lake

Sand Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season.

A TSI near 44 places Sand Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. A maximum depth of 47 ft puts Sand Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. Sand Lake covers 527 acres alongside 6.9 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Among the 19 graded lakes in Pine County, Sand Lake ranks 4 — in the top quartile locally.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Sand Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. Sand Lake's fishery is anchored by muskellunge, with 15 documented species in total — a destination water for muskie anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The lake has a partial ice record — 20 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 19. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.