Round Goby
Invasive SpeciesFound in 19 lakes
Round Goby appears on state infested-waters lists for 19 surface waters. Boaters and anglers moving gear in or out of those lakes carry a clean-drain-dry obligation under state law. 19 lakes — narrow enough that aggressive containment is still on the table. Most upper-Midwest invasives that established here did so quietly over a decade before anyone noticed, so a low number today is not a guarantee for tomorrow.
The presence of Round Goby does not directly change a lake's LakeGrade rubric score — the grade measures the water itself, not the species inhabiting it. But invasive presence is a meaningful adjacent signal worth reading alongside the grade.
Lakes with Round Goby
| Lake | County | State | Grade | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior Lake | Cook | MN | A | - |
| Superior Lake | St. Louis | MN | A | - |
| Clark Lake | Door | WI | A | 25 ft |
| Powderhorn Lake | Cook | IL | A | - |
| Lake Calumet | Cook | IL | B | - |
| Little Lake Deep | Cook | MN | B | - |
| Flatfoot Lake | Cook | IL | B | - |
| Calumet Lake | Cook | IL | B | - |
| Teal Lake Deep | Cook | MN | C | - |
| Lobdell Lake West Basin; Argentine Township | Genesee | MI | C | - |
| Duluth Lake | St. Louis | MN | D | - |
| Flatfoot Lake | Cook | IL | D | - |
| Little Lake Inlet | Cook | MN | F | - |
| Little Lake Landing | Cook | MN | F | - |
| Little Lake Butte des Morts | Winnebago | WI | F | 18 ft |
| Big Marsh Park Ne Lake | Cook | IL | F | - |
| Burnham Prairie Marsh West Lake | Cook | IL | F | - |
| Big Marsh Lake | Cook | IL | F | - |
| Lake Calumet | Cook | IL | F | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have round goby?
Round Goby has been documented in 19 graded lakes: 9 in Illinois, 7 in Minnesota, 2 in Wisconsin, 1 in Michigan.
Does round goby affect water quality?
Invasive species can significantly affect lake ecosystems. They may alter nutrient cycling, displace native species, and change water clarity. Lakes with round goby should be monitored for changes in water quality over time.
Invasives Found With Round Goby
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.