George Lake

George Lake earns an F: 129 µg/L of phosphorus and clarity at 2.5 ft signal heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed. With clarity and phosphorus scored, the sub-grades cluster within a letter of each other, pointing to stable conditions rather than one specific stressor.

At a TSI of 69, George Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. A maximum depth of 28 ft puts George Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. George Lake is small — 88 acres alongside 1.5 miles of shoreline — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Within Blue Earth County's 9 graded lakes, George Lake ranks 6 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

No invasive species are currently listed at George Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 9, 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 grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.