Split Hand Lake
Split Hand Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 1373.73 acres.
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 1,374 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 20
- Open water
- 219 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Split Hand Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 30 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Why Split Hand Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Split Hand Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Split Hand Lake is a 1,374-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Split Hand Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.1 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Split Hand Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Split Hand Lake in Itasca 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Split Hand Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Split Hand Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 53 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Split Hand Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,374 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 37% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Split Hand LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Split Hand Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
23 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-25 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 43.10 | 0.18 lb |
| BNS | 22.81 | — |
| CNM | 21.00 | — |
| GOS | 18.86 | — |
| Bluegill | 9.82 | 0.3 lb |
| JND | 8.44 | — |
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
Bluegill
From the 2025-08-25 survey
Split Hand Lake is a large, productive lake that supports a diverse fish community and popular fishing opportunities. The lake's water chemistry and fertility are well-suited for fish growth, although water clarity is typically limited, with visibility usually around three to four feet. Overall, the lake continues to…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Split Hand Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Split HandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Split Hand (0551)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Split HandFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Split HandPublic 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 | +0.089 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (24 observations).
Estimated open water season: 219 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-20 (2024) | 2013-05-11 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2004-11-11 (2004) | 2011-12-06 (2011) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-14
EPA Impairment Status
Split Hand 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 MN31-0353-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Split Hand Lake
Split Hand Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Split Hand Lake
What is the water quality grade for Split Hand Lake?
- Split Hand Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 1373.73 acres.
Is Split Hand Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Split Hand Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Split Hand Lake?
- Split Hand Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 53 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Split Hand Lake?
- Split Hand Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 1373.73 acres.
What fish are in Split Hand Lake?
- Fish species found in Split Hand Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Split Hand Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Split Hand Lake thaw?
- Split Hand Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 219 days.
Are there boat ramps on Split Hand Lake?
- Split Hand Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Split Hand Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Split Hand Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
77 measurements from 3 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
MNPCA77 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate