South Stanchfield Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric South Stanchfield Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 67 and persistent algal pressure put it in the bottom tier. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. The lake bottoms out at 17 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. The lake's 411 acres and 3.7 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. South Stanchfield Lake ranks 19 of 19 in Isanti County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at South Stanchfield Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at South Stanchfield Lake, one of 14 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at South Stanchfield Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is supported by multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies, giving the letter a reasonably stable foundation.