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D

Sandy Lake

Anoka County, MinnesotaEutrophic

Sandy Lake earns a D — measurements through 2023 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

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's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Sandy Lake sits at rank 18 of 24 in Anoka County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Sandy Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Sandy Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Sandy Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-07-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

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Swimming Safety

Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk

Water Quality Grade: D, Poor

Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 76 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)2.5 ftF
Phosphorus76 µg/LD
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)65Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Water Quality Trend: Declining

Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.1 m/yr3
Phosphorus Declining+15 µg/L/yr3

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #18 of 24 lakes in Anoka County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Sandy Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Anoka County

EPA Impairment Status

Sandy Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN02-0080-00 · Official waterbody report

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2023-07-31

Monitoring stations: 2