Upper Sakatah Lake
Le Sueur County, Minnesota892 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Upper Sakatah Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 12 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Upper Sakatah Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 3, 2020 caught 10.62 walleye per gill net at Upper Sakatah Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–23 inches. DNR survey details →
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. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Upper Sakatah Lake covers about 890 acres in Le Sueur County. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. The median ice-out date is March 28, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Upper Sakatah Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Upper Sakatah Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing14 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Mar 28
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Upper Sakatah Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Upper Sakatah Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Upper Sakatah Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Upper Sakatah Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 303 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 76.8 µg/L. TSI 74.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 303µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 76.8µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 74 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about Upper Sakatah Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 3, 2020 caught 10.62 walleye per gill net at Upper Sakatah Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–23 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Upper Sakatah Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-08-03 (Targeted Survey).
9 surveys on file · most recent 2020-08-03 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 107.33 | 10 in 2020-08-03 | 0.6 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 20.01 | 3–19 in 2020-08-03 | 0.87 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.90 | 6 in 2020-08-03 | 0.99 lb |
| Walleye | 6.84 | 8–23 in 2020-08-03 | 0.89 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.85 | 5–11 in 2020-08-03 | 0.25 lb |
| White Bass | 5.82 | 4–17 in 2020-08-03 | 0.74 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
12 ft
Surface area
892 acres
Shoreline
8 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
165 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
991 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Upper Sakatah LakePublic
- WatervillePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Upper Sakatah Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Upper Sakatah Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Upper Sakatah Lake
- → Upper Sakatah Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Upper Sakatah Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Upper Sakatah Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Upper Sakatah Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2022–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Phosphorus
Improving-50.5 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+25.87 µg/L/yr2 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Mar 28
Earliest Feb 27, 2024 · Latest Apr 21, 2013
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 25, 2006 · Latest Dec 7, 2021
Most recent ice-out
Mar 15
2025
34 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.
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.
Nearby Lakes in Le Sueur County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Sakatah Lake
Where is Upper Sakatah Lake?
- Upper Sakatah Lake is a lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Upper Sakatah Lake?
- Upper Sakatah Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Upper Sakatah Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Upper Sakatah Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 3, 2020 caught 10.62 walleye per gill net at Upper Sakatah Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–23 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Upper Sakatah Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Upper Sakatah Lake?
- Upper Sakatah Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Upper Sakatah Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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