Sarah Lake
Sarah Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 106.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 34.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 59 ft. Surface area: 557.23 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 60°F
- Max depth
- 59 ft
- Area
- 557 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 3
- Open water
- 248 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Sarah Lake →
Next lake in Hennepin County
Sarah Lake is a 557-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 59 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Sarah Lake ranks #73 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-13. 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 3.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 106.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 34.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 106.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 34.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Sarah Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sarah Lake in Hennepin 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 Sarah Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Sarah Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Sarah Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 58°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 60°F) and coldest in Apr (about 45°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 2,085 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sarah Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 59 ft |
| Surface Area | 557 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 67% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Lake Sarah, Kohen Memorial LandingPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sarah Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-18 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 43.88 | 0.17 lb |
| Black Crappie | 19.43 | 0.17 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 16.09 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.21 | 1.45 lb |
| IOD | 9.37 | — |
| Yellow Bass | 8.53 | 1.04 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Bass
From the 2022-07-18 survey
Lake Sarah is a 561-acre lake with a maximum depth of 59 feet, located southeast of Rockford, in western Hennepin County. Sarah is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike, and also holds healthy populations of Black Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Bullhead, and Walleye. Walleye have been stocked privately…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sarah Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SarahFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SarahFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SarahPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.047 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +22.77 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.46 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (18 observations).
Estimated open water season: 248 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-18 (2012) | 2018-05-02 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2012-11-20 (2012) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-14
EPA Impairment Status
Sarah Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0191-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.73 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #73 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Sarah 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 Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Sarah Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sarah Lake?
- Sarah Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 106.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 34.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 59 ft. Surface area: 557.23 acres.
Is Sarah 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. Sarah Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 34.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Sarah Lake?
- Sarah Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August, from 2,085 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sarah Lake?
- Sarah Lake has a maximum depth of 59 feet. The lake covers 557.23 acres.
What fish are in Sarah Lake?
- Fish species found in Sarah Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Sarah Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
When does Sarah Lake thaw?
- Sarah Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 3. Ice typically forms around Dec 7. The open water season is approximately 248 days.
Are there boat ramps on Sarah Lake?
- Sarah Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Sarah, Kohen Memorial Landing. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Sarah Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Hennepin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Sarah Lake
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Where this data comes from
342 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA342 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 4500 N C ~ Persufate Method for Total Nitrogen
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate