Upper Sakatah Lake
Upper Sakatah Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 303 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 76.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 892.01 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 892 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 28
- Open water
- 248 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Upper Sakatah Lake →
Next lake in Le Sueur County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Upper Sakatah Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 10 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Upper Sakatah Lake is a 892-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Le Sueur County, Upper Sakatah Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-21. 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 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 303 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 76.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 74.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 303 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 76.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 74 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Upper Sakatah Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Upper Sakatah Lake in Le Sueur 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 Upper Sakatah Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Upper Sakatah Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 892 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Upper Sakatah LakePublic
- WatervillePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Upper Sakatah Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-08-03 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 107.33 | 0.6 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 20.01 | 0.87 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.90 | 0.99 lb |
| Walleye | 6.84 | 0.89 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.85 | 0.25 lb |
| White Bass | 5.82 | 0.74 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
Freshwater Drum
Largemouth Bass
Walleye
From the 2020-08-03 survey
Upper Sakatah Lake is an 881-acre lake located on the east side of the town of Waterville in Le Sueur County. It has a maximum depth of 12 feet. A boat access is located in Sakatah State Park on the south shore but it can also be accessed via the Cannon River. Upper Sakatah Lake is primarily managed for Walleye and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Upper Sakatah Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Upper SakatahFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Upper SakatahFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Upper SakatahPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -50.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +25.87 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (34 observations).
Estimated open water season: 248 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-02-27 (2024) | 2013-04-21 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2006-11-25 (2006) | 2021-12-07 (2021) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-15
EPA Impairment Status
Upper Sakatah 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 MN40-0002-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Upper Sakatah Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- WatervilleWaterville · 0.4 mi away · NPDES MN0025208
- Centerpoint Energy - WatervilleWaterville · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MN0063967
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 13 lakes in Le Sueur County
Nearby Lakes in Le Sueur County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Sakatah Lake
What is the water quality grade for Upper Sakatah Lake?
- Upper Sakatah Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 303 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 76.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 892.01 acres.
Is Upper Sakatah 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. Upper Sakatah Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 76.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Upper Sakatah Lake?
- Upper Sakatah Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 892.01 acres.
What fish are in Upper Sakatah Lake?
- Fish species found in Upper Sakatah Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, freshwater drum, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Upper Sakatah Lake is located in Le Sueur County, Minnesota.
When does Upper Sakatah Lake thaw?
- Upper Sakatah Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 28. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 248 days.
Are there boat ramps on Upper Sakatah Lake?
- Upper Sakatah Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Upper Sakatah Lake, Waterville. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Upper Sakatah 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 Le Sueur County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
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Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA21 samples · 2022–2025
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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