George Lake
George Lake in Blue Earth County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 122.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 37.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 88.24 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 88 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near George Lake →
Next lake in Blue Earth County
George Lake is a 88-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Blue Earth County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 28 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Blue Earth County, George Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-04. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 122.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 37.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 122.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 37.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near George Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near George Lake in Blue Earth 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around George Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near George Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
George Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 69°F) and coldest in Sep (about 67°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 58 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full George Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 88 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 69% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Wita LakePublic
- George LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing George Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-04-19 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 52.05 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Crappie | 42.19 | 0.16 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.57 | 1.49 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 10.20 | 1.09 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 4.91 | 1.23 lb |
| Walleye | 4.08 | 2.69 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
Black Crappie
Largemouth Bass
Black Bullhead
From the 2023-04-19 survey
Three trap nets were set on 19 April 2023 to assess winterkill. Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Black Bullheads were all sampled in high numbers. Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Yellow Perch were also present. Some dead fish were observed on the shoreline but the extent of any winterkill was modest.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for George Lake. 2 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
- —Public Water Access Sites — GeorgePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.136 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -31.6 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.25 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
George Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN07-0047-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 5 lakes in Blue Earth County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
George Lake holds Grade F. 2 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 Blue Earth County
Frequently asked questions about George Lake
What is the water quality grade for George Lake?
- George Lake in Blue Earth County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 122.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 37.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 88.24 acres.
Is George Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. George Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 37.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of George Lake?
- George Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 58 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is George Lake?
- George Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 88.24 acres.
What fish are in George Lake?
- Fish species found in George Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. George Lake is located in Blue Earth County, Minnesota.
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 Wita Lake, George Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore George Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Blue Earth County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA24 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory