South Sugar Lake
South Sugar Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 82.72 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 36 ft
- Area
- 83 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 17
- Open water
- 225 days
Next lake in Itasca County
South Sugar Lake is a 83-acre mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 36 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, South Sugar Lake ranks #33 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 14.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near South Sugar Lake
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Water Temperature
South Sugar Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full South Sugar Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 36 ft |
| Surface Area | 83 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 36% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing South Sugar Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-08-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 28.66 | 1.05 lb |
| Bluegill | 13.67 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 5.27 | 0.64 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.26 | 0.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.21 | 3.23 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.12 | 0.28 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
From the 2017-08-21 survey
South Sugar is an 88 acre lake located six miles southwest of Grand Rapids in the Mississippi River headwaters watershed. The lake is connected to Sisseebakwet (Sugar) Lake through a shallow channel navigable by small boats. South Sugar is relatively lightly developed and has clear water. The lake supports a variety…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for South Sugar Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — South SugarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.168 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.11 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.74 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (19 observations).
Estimated open water season: 225 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-29 (2000) | 1996-05-06 (1996) |
| Ice-In | 2006-11-19 (2006) | 2003-11-29 (2003) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-06
County Ranking
Ranked #33 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about South Sugar Lake
What is the water quality grade for South Sugar Lake?
- South Sugar Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 82.72 acres.
Is South Sugar Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. South Sugar Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of South Sugar Lake?
- South Sugar Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 14 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is South Sugar Lake?
- South Sugar Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet. The lake covers 82.72 acres.
What fish are in South Sugar Lake?
- Fish species found in South Sugar Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, yellow perch. South Sugar Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does South Sugar Lake thaw?
- South Sugar Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 17. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 225 days.
Explore South Sugar Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
91 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
MNPCA91 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate