Sands Lake
Sands Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Becker County
Sands Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Sands Lake ranks #45 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-22. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Sands Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sands Lake in Becker 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.
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Water Temperature
Sands Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Sep (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 39 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sands Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Sands Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sands Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fish Stocking History — SandsFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #45 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Sands Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sands Lake?
- Sands Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L.
Is Sands Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Sands Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Sands Lake?
- Sands Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 39 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sands Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Sands Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Explore Sands Lake across LakeGrade
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Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
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Where this data comes from
22 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA22 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)