Sand Lake
Sand Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 949 acres.
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 50 ft
- Area
- 949 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Sawyer County
Sand Lake is a 949-acre mesotrophic lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 50 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Sawyer County, Sand Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus level: 23.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Sand Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sand Lake in Sawyer 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.
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Water Temperature
Sand Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 15 field readings (2024–2026) 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 (151,356 cells/mL) on May 30, 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 | 50 ft |
| Surface Area | 949 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Sand LakePublic
- Lower Holly LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sand Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1989. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.175 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.08 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.4 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Sand Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Sand Lake (completed 1950), built primarily for recreation on the SAND CREEK; gravity-type dam, 7 ft tall and 20 ft long.
- Surface area
- 928 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,700 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 6,500 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 22 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI01100 · Operator website
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 WI10004089 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.42 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 45 lakes in Sawyer County
Nearby Lakes in Sawyer County
Frequently asked questions about Sand Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 949 acres.
Is Sand Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Sand Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 15 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 50 feet. The lake covers 949 acres.
What fish are in Sand Lake?
- Fish species found in Sand Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Sand Lake is located in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
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 (151,356 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
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 Sand Lake, Lower Holly Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Sand Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Sawyer County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade A Lakes in Wisconsin
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Where this data comes from
116 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Lac Courte Oreilles (Tribal)
LCOWIS_WQX72 samples · 2020–2024 - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX44 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 2320 B ~ Alkalinity by Gran Titration
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus by Ascorbic Acid
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory