Goodhue County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 10 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
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. On average, Goodhue County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.
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. Goose Lake (F) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Goodhue County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Goose Lake, 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 | Goose Lake | F | 0.4 ft | 5.7 ft | 176 µg/L |
| 2 | Nelson Lake | F | 3.3 ft | - | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.