South Stanchfield Lake
Isanti County, Minnesota411 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for South Stanchfield Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 17 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
South Stanchfield Lake in Isanti County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 119 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 32 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 410.83 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on May 20, 2024 caught 0.50 walleye per gill net at South Stanchfield Lake. DNR survey details →
South Stanchfield Lake is a 411-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Isanti County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 16 other monitored lakes in Isanti County, South Stanchfield Lake ranks #16 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-12. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
South Stanchfield Lake covers about 410 acres in Isanti County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near South Stanchfield Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What South Stanchfield Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing14 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. South Stanchfield Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether South Stanchfield Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for South Stanchfield Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for South Stanchfield Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 119 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 32 µg/L. TSI 67.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 119µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 32µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 67 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about South Stanchfield Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on May 20, 2024 caught 0.50 walleye per gill net at South Stanchfield Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows South Stanchfield Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-05-20 (Standard Survey).
5 surveys on file · most recent 2024-05-20 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 102.90 | 4–10 in 2024-05-20 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 94.28 | 5–10 in 2024-05-20 | 0.13 lb |
| Common Carp | 12.36 | 10–25 in 2024-05-20 | 3.36 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.41 | 3–17 in 2024-05-20 | 0.58 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 8.13 | 6–9 in 2024-05-20 | 0.29 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.40 | 4–8 in 2024-05-20 | 0.36 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Common Carp
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-05-20 survey
South Stanchfield Lake is a 398-acre lake in northwestern Isanti County located thirteen miles northwest of Cambridge, MN, and is within the Rum River watershed. The lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet and an average depth of 9 feet. The lake is 92% littoral (15 feet or less, 366 acres). The color of the water is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for South Stanchfield Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — South StanchfieldFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — South Stanchfield (1837)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — South StanchfieldPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
17 ft
Surface area
411 acres
Shoreline
3.7 mi
Littoral zone
89%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
9 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
948 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- South Stanchfield LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near South Stanchfield Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near South Stanchfield Lake in Isanti 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around South Stanchfield Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near South Stanchfield Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing South Stanchfield Lake
- → South Stanchfield Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → South Stanchfield Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → South Stanchfield Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from South Stanchfield Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
South Stanchfield Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the South Stanchfield Lake (completed 1939), built primarily for recreation on the Stanchfield Creek; gravity-type dam, 8 ft tall and 30 ft long.
- Surface area
- 363 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,582 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,378 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 10 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00528 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
South Stanchfield Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN30-0138-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Isanti County
Frequently asked questions about South Stanchfield Lake
Where is South Stanchfield Lake?
- South Stanchfield Lake is a lake in Isanti County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of South Stanchfield Lake?
- South Stanchfield Lake in Isanti County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 119 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 32 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 410.83 acres.
Is South Stanchfield Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. South Stanchfield Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is South Stanchfield Lake?
- South Stanchfield Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 410.83 acres.
What fish are in South Stanchfield Lake?
- Fish species found in South Stanchfield Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. South Stanchfield Lake is located in Isanti County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at South Stanchfield Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on May 20, 2024 caught 0.50 walleye per gill net at South Stanchfield Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows South Stanchfield Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on South Stanchfield Lake?
- South Stanchfield Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include South Stanchfield Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at South Stanchfield Lake?
- South Stanchfield Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore South Stanchfield Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Isanti County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Rum River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare South Stanchfield Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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