Sandy Lake
Sandy Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 102 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 48.1 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Sandy Lake →
Next lake in Anoka County
Sandy Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Anoka County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Anoka County, Sandy Lake ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 102 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 48.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 102 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 48.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Sandy Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sandy Lake in Anoka 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 Sandy Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Sandy Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Sandy Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Apr (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 38 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sandy Lake water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Riverfront Regional ParkPublic
Fishing Sandy Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.021 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +25.89 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +12.55 µg/L/yr | 4 |
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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN02-0080-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Sandy Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Minneapolis Water Works FridleyFridley · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MN0003247Recent violation
- Kurt ManufacturingFridley · 0.7 mi away · NPDES MN0066168
- Gaf Materials CorpMinneapolis · 1.9 mi away · NPDES MN0002119
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 23 lakes in Anoka County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Sandy Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Anoka County
Frequently asked questions about Sandy Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sandy Lake?
- Sandy Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 102 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 48.1 µg/L.
Is Sandy 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. Sandy Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 48.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Sandy Lake?
- Sandy Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 38 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Sandy Lake?
- Sandy Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Riverfront Regional Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Sandy Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
69 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA69 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory