South Stanchfield Lake
South Stanchfield Lake in Isanti County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). 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.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 411 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near South Stanchfield Lake →
Next lake in Isanti County
South Stanchfield Lake is a 411-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Isanti County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. 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. 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.
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 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 119 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 32 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 119 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 32 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around South Stanchfield Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near South Stanchfield Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 411 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 89% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- South Stanchfield LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing South Stanchfield Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-05-20 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 102.90 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 94.28 | 0.13 lb |
| Common Carp | 12.36 | 3.36 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.41 | 0.58 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 8.13 | 0.29 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.40 | 0.36 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.
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
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN30-0138-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #16 of 17 lakes in Isanti County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
South Stanchfield 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.
Nearby Lakes in Isanti County
Frequently asked questions about South Stanchfield Lake
What is the water quality grade for South Stanchfield Lake?
- South Stanchfield Lake in Isanti County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). 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?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. South Stanchfield Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 32 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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.
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.
Explore South Stanchfield 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 Isanti County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Rum River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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)
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