Goodhue County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 10 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Goodhue County has 10 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. Goodhue County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. North Lake 3 (B) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Goodhue County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for North Lake 3, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
DNR Reports (6)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Goodhue County. browse all reports →
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GooseFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ClearFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — NelsonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — NorthPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Sharp MuskratPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SturgeonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Goodhue County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Lake 3 | B | - | - | - |
| 2 | North Lake 2 | C | 123.5 ft | - | 86.5 µg/L |
| 3 | Sturgeon Lake 2 | C | 134.5 ft | - | 88 µg/L |
| 4 | North Lake 1 | C | 100.1 ft | - | 99 µg/L |
| 5 | Clear Lake 2 | C | 131.2 ft | - | 61 µg/L |
| 6 | Sturgeon Lake 1 | C | 93.7 ft | - | 101 µg/L |
| 7 | Sturgeon Lake 3 | C | - | - | - |
| 8 | Goose Lake | D | 42.3 ft | - | 176 µg/L |
| 9 | Clear Lake 1 | D | 45.1 ft | - | 174 µg/L |
| 10 | Nelson Lake | F | 3.3 ft | - | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.