Sauk Lake
Sauk Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 61 ft. Surface area: 2125.69 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Max depth
- 61 ft
- Area
- 2,126 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 7
- Open water
- 238 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Sauk Lake →
Next lake in Stearns County
Sauk Lake is a 2,126-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 61 feet (17-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, Sauk Lake ranks #16 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-14. 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 22.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 52 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 22.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Sauk Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sauk Lake in Stearns 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 Sauk Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Sauk Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 61 ft |
| Average Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,126 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 22.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 65% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Sauk Lake (South)Public
- Highway 71 BridgePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sauk 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
29 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-09 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 47.09 | 0.1 lb |
| Walleye | 44.05 | 1.33 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 40.43 | — |
| SUN | 17.15 | — |
| Bluegill | 16.70 | 0.23 lb |
| JND | 15.67 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
Walleye
Bluegill
From the 2025-09-09 survey
Sauk (Big Sauk) Lake (DOW# 77-0150-00; Lake Class 25) is a 2,126-acre lake that extends north of the Sauk Centre Dam. The lake has a maximum depth of 61 feet, an average depth of 17 feet, and water visibility around 6 feet. Sauk Lake has a variety of submerged, emergent, and floating-leaf vegetation around its…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sauk Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SaukFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SaukFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SaukPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.219 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (26 observations).
Estimated open water season: 238 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-16 (2016) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-10 (2018) | 2017-12-25 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-10
EPA Impairment Status
Sauk 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 MN77-0150-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.4 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Sauk Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Valero-Sauk Centre TerminalSauk Centre · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MN0057771
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 #16 of 32 lakes in Stearns County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Sauk Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Sauk Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sauk Lake?
- Sauk Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 61 ft. Surface area: 2125.69 acres.
Is Sauk Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Sauk Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 22.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Sauk Lake?
- Sauk Lake has a maximum depth of 61 feet and an average depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 2125.69 acres.
What fish are in Sauk Lake?
- Fish species found in Sauk Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Sauk Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
When does Sauk Lake thaw?
- Sauk Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 238 days.
Are there boat ramps on Sauk Lake?
- Sauk Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sauk Lake (South), Highway 71 Bridge. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Sauk 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 Stearns County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
343 measurements from 5 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA343 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (5)
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)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate