Geneva Lake
Douglas County, Minnesota640 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Geneva Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 63 ft max depth
- Public access
Geneva Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 5, 2024 caught 4.33 walleye per gill net at Geneva Lake. DNR survey details →
Geneva Lake is a 640-acre mesotrophic lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 63 feet (24-foot average). 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Geneva Lake covers about 640 acres in Douglas County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 12, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Geneva Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Geneva Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14.1 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing17 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 12
- Deep water63 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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. Geneva Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Geneva 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 Geneva Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Geneva Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 14.1 ft. Phosphorus 21.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.9 µg/L. TSI 45.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 14.1ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 21.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4.9µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 45 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Geneva Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Geneva Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (52°F) to its warmest (77°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 5, 2024 caught 4.33 walleye per gill net at Geneva Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Geneva Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-05 (Standard Survey).
13 surveys on file · most recent 2024-08-05 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 31.66 | 3–9 in 2024-08-05 | 0.17 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 28.58 | 3–18 in 2024-08-05 | 0.75 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 11.02 | 4–13 in 2024-08-05 | 0.75 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.17 | 5–8 in 2024-08-05 | 0.17 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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Bullhead
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
Lake Details
Max depth
63 ft
Average depth
24 ft
Surface area
640 acres
Shoreline
5.2 mi
Littoral zone
46%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Recreation & Access
- Lake Geneva (South)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
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 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.9 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.35 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 12
Earliest Mar 29, 2017 · Latest May 1, 2008
Typical ice-in
Nov 30
Earliest Nov 20, 2003 · Latest Dec 18, 2001
Most recent ice-out
Apr 25
2023
13 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN21-0052-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Geneva Lake
Where is Geneva Lake?
- Geneva Lake is a lake in Douglas County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Geneva Lake?
- Geneva Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Geneva Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Geneva Lake?
- Geneva Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Geneva Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 5, 2024 caught 4.33 walleye per gill net at Geneva Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Geneva Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Geneva Lake?
- Geneva Lake has 1 documented boat landing 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 Geneva 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 Douglas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
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Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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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)
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
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate