Geneva Lake
Geneva Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 639.81 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 63 ft
- Area
- 640 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 12
- Open water
- 232 days
Next lake in Douglas County
Geneva Lake is a 640-acre mesotrophic lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 63 feet (24-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Geneva Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Geneva Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 14.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 21.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Geneva Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Geneva Lake in Douglas 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Geneva Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Geneva Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 93 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Geneva Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 63 ft |
| Average Depth | 24 ft |
| Surface Area | 640 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 46% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake Geneva (South)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Geneva 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
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-05 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BKS | 31.86 | — |
| Bluegill | 31.66 | 0.17 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 28.58 | 0.75 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 11.02 | 0.75 lb |
| PGS | 10.39 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 9.17 | 0.17 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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-08-05 survey
Lake Geneva is a 631-acre lake located on the eastern edge of the city of Alexandria and is part of the Alexandria Chain of Lakes. A navigable connection exists to Lake Le Homme Dieu. A connection also exists to Lake Victoria, but shallow water can make navigation difficult or impossible for some boats. There are two…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Geneva Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GenevaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GenevaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GenevaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.19 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.9 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.35 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (13 observations).
Estimated open water season: 232 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-03-29 (2017) | 2008-05-01 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-20 (2003) | 2001-12-18 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-25
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Geneva Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Geneva (completed 1936), built primarily for recreation on the LONG PRAIRIE RIVER - TR; other-type dam, 8 ft tall and 17 ft long.
- Surface area
- 635 ac
- Normal storage
- 16,584 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 18,657 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 29.1 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR-Trails
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00178 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Geneva 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 MN21-0052-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 37 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Geneva Lake
What is the water quality grade for Geneva Lake?
- Geneva Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 639.81 acres.
Is Geneva Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Geneva Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Geneva Lake?
- Geneva Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 93 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Geneva Lake?
- Geneva Lake has a maximum depth of 63 feet and an average depth of 24 feet. The lake covers 639.81 acres.
What fish are in Geneva Lake?
- Fish species found in Geneva Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Geneva Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
When does Geneva Lake thaw?
- Geneva Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 12. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 232 days.
Are there boat ramps on Geneva Lake?
- Geneva Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Geneva (South). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Geneva 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 Douglas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Alexandria Lakes area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Geneva Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Geneva Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
216 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA216 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
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