Sand Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Sand Lake at a C: clarity at 9.0 ft, phosphorus readings still being added, and a TSI of 45 signal an intermediate trophic state. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. A maximum depth of 15 ft puts Sand Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 779 acres, Sand Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 6.9 miles of shoreline. Within St. Louis County's 187 graded lakes, Sand Lake ranks 96 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

No invasive species are currently listed at Sand Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 9 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. No formal public access is documented at Sand Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Ice-out has been recorded 19 times at Sand Lake, with a median around Apr 22. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.