Sandy Lake
Sandy Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 261.33 acres.
- Clarity
- 14 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 32 ft
- Area
- 261 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Beltrami County
Sandy Lake is a 261-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 32 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Sandy Lake ranks #19 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-02. 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 14 ft. Phosphorus level: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Sandy Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sandy Lake in Beltrami 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
Sandy Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 68°F) and coldest in Jun (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 40 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Sandy Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (92,045 cells/mL) on May 9, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Surface Area | 261 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 77% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Sandy LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sandy Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Sandy 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 MN04-0124-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #19 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Sandy Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sandy Lake?
- Sandy Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 261.33 acres.
Is Sandy Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Sandy Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Sandy Lake?
- Sandy Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 40 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sandy Lake?
- Sandy Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake covers 261.33 acres.
What fish are in Sandy Lake?
- Fish species found in Sandy Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Sandy Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
Does Sandy Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Sandy Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (92,045 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
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 Sandy Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Sandy Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA16 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by 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
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