George Lake

George Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

At a TSI of 50, George Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. A maximum depth of 32 ft puts George Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. George Lake covers 489 acres alongside 3.5 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Among the 24 graded lakes in Anoka County, George Lake sits at rank 7, above the county median.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at George Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 12, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. A documented public access point at George Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a long ice-out record — 58 observations on file, with a median ice-out around Apr 7. The grade is supported by multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies, giving the letter a reasonably stable foundation.