Sand Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric Sand Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 64 and persistent algal pressure put it in the bottom tier.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. The lake bottoms out at 15 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 209 acres, Sand Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 2.7 miles of shoreline. Sand Lake ranks 49 of 55 in Stearns County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Sand Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Sand Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. A documented public access point at Sand Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 5 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 3. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.