George Lake
George Lake in Martin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 115 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 77.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 83.17 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 11 ft
- Area
- 83 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 26
- Open water
- 249 days
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 Martin County
George Lake is a 83-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Martin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 11 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 15 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Martin County, George Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch George Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 115 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 77.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 115 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 77.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near George Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near George Lake in Martin 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
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
George Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 79°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Apr (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 73 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full George Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 11 ft |
| Surface Area | 83 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- 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: 2025-07-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| YLB | 75.64 | 0.19 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 23.97 | 0.43 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 16.69 | 0.62 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 12.01 | 0.21 lb |
| Black Crappie | 11.22 | 0.3 lb |
| Bluegill | 11.07 | 0.28 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.
YLB
Black Bullhead
Freshwater Drum
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-07-28 survey
George Lake is an 84-acre, class 40 lake that has a maximum depth of 11.0 feet, and is located within the City of Fairmont in Martin County. George Lake is the farthest downstream on a chain of five lakes collectively known as the "Fairmont Chain of Lakes". George Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and Muskellunge…
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
- —Fish Stocking History — GeorgeFish Stocking History · 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 | +0.106 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -8.7 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.63 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (20 observations).
Estimated open water season: 249 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-02-23 (2024) | 2018-04-29 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-13 (2018) | 2017-12-08 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-10
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
George Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the George Lake (completed 1939), built primarily for recreation on the Cedar River; gravity-type dam, 14 ft tall and 72 ft long.
- Surface area
- 76 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,878 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,993 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 45 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- City of Fairmont
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00102 · Operator website
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 MN46-0024-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of George Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Fairmont WwtpFairmont · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MN0030112MajorRecent violation
- Fairmont Foods IncFairmont · 1 mi away · NPDES MN0001996Recent violation
- Green Plains Fairmont LlcFairmont · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MN0068063
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 #3 of 12 lakes in Martin County
Nearby Lakes in Martin County
Frequently asked questions about George Lake
What is the water quality grade for George Lake?
- George Lake in Martin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 115 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 77.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 83.17 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 77.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of George Lake?
- George Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 73 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is George Lake?
- George Lake has a maximum depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 83.17 acres.
What fish are in George Lake?
- Fish species found in George Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bass, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. George Lake is located in Martin County, Minnesota.
When does George Lake thaw?
- George Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 26. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 249 days.
Are there boat ramps on George Lake?
- George Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include George Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore George Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Martin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
98 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA98 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 3 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by fluorometer
- 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
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