George Lake
George Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 488.63 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 32 ft
- Area
- 489 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 7
- Open water
- 234 days
Next lake in Anoka County
George Lake is a 489-acre mesotrophic lake in Anoka County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 32 feet (5-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Anoka County, George Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near George Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near George Lake in Anoka 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.
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Water Temperature
George Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 57 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full George Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for George Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (34,041 cells/mL) on November 18, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Average Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 489 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 80% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- River MeadowsPublic
- Lake GeorgePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing George 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: 2024-07-16 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 86.24 | 0.13 lb |
| BNS | 23.29 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 18.30 | — |
| BKF | 11.31 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.21 | 0.98 lb |
| BCS | 8.59 | — |
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
BNS
Bluntnose Minnow
BKF
From the 2024-07-16 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in George Lake was conducted on July 16 - 17, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for George Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GeorgeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — George (1384)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GeorgePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.202 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.15 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.31 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (110 observations).
Estimated open water season: 234 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-15 (2016) | 1996-04-23 (1996) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-04 (1991) | 2001-12-21 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-15
EPA Impairment Status
George 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 MN02-0091-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of George Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Saint Francis WwtpSaint Francis · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MN0021407Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 23 lakes in Anoka County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
George Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Anoka County
Frequently asked questions about George Lake
What is the water quality grade for George Lake?
- George Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 488.63 acres.
Is George Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. George Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of George Lake?
- George Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 57 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is George Lake?
- George Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet and an average depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 488.63 acres.
What fish are in George Lake?
- Fish species found in George Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. George Lake is located in Anoka County, Minnesota.
When does George Lake thaw?
- George Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 234 days.
Does George Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for George Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (34,041 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on George Lake?
- George Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include River Meadows, Lake George. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore George Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
161 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA161 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
- Turbidity, Probe Method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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