Sand Lake

On the scoring rubric Sand Lake grades a D: clarity at 2.5 ft and 53 µg/L of phosphorus keep it in the lower bracket for Washington County. The lake's weakest score is on Secchi depth — the water looks more turbid than its phosphorus number alone would predict.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. The lake bottoms out at 18 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 47 acres, Sand Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Within the 83 graded lakes of Washington County, Sand Lake sits at rank 72, near the bottom of the county list.

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. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. The grade is supported by multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies, giving the letter a reasonably stable foundation.