Sand Lake
Sand Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 53 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 42.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 46.86 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 47 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Sand Lake →
Next lake in Washington County
Sand Lake is a 47-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Washington County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 74 other monitored lakes in Washington County, Sand Lake ranks #67 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 53 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 42.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 53 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 42.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Sand Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sand Lake in Washington County, Minnesota — 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Sand Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Sand Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Sand Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Apr (about 46°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 65 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sand Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 47 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 87% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- SomersetPublic
- William O'Brien State ParkPublic
- Otisville - Log HousePublic
Fishing Sand Lake
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 MN82-0068-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.38 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #67 of 75 lakes in Washington County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Sand Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Sand Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 53 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 42.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 46.86 acres.
Is Sand Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Sand Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 42.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 65 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake covers 46.86 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Somerset, William O'Brien State Park, Otisville - Log House. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Sand Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Washington County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Sand Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
28 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA28 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory