Geneva Lake
Douglas County, MinnesotaMesotrophic
On the LakeGrade scale Geneva Lake grades a B, with clarity at 14.1 ft and 22 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Minnesota median. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.
The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. At 63 ft of maximum depth, Geneva Lake stratifies reliably through the summer — the hypolimnion stays cooler and clearer than the surface layer suggests. The lake's 640 acres and 5.2 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Geneva Lake sits at rank 32 of 51 in Douglas County, in the lower half of the local distribution.
Zebra mussel presence at Geneva Lake means the lake's clarity numbers carry an asterisk — filtered water is not the same as nutrient-poor water. Walleye are documented at Geneva Lake, one of 17 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The lake has a partial ice record — 8 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 12. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Track Geneva Lake
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 14.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.1 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 63 ft |
| Average Depth | 24 ft |
| Surface Area | 639.81 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 46% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Geneva Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Geneva Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Geneva Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
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: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.245 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.3 µg/L/yr | 5 |
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
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #32 of 51 lakes in Douglas County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Geneva Lake holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ADarling LakeDouglas County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- ABurgen LakeDouglas County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Geneva Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Geneva Lake With Nearby Lakes
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.
- —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
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
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-09-24
Monitoring stations: 4