George Watch Lake
George Watch Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 270 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 79°F
- Max depth
- ~34 ft est.
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Anoka County
Why George Watch Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For George Watch Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
George Watch Lake is a lake in Anoka County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 34 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-06-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch George Watch Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for George Watch Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 3.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 270 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 11.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 270 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near George Watch Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near George Watch 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.
Top-rated places to stay near George Watch Lake
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Water Temperature
George Watch Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in Oct (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full George Watch Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~34 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~8 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for George Watch Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing George Watch 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.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.186 m/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
George Watch 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 MN02-0005-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near George Watch Lake
George Watch Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Anoka County
Frequently asked questions about George Watch Lake
What is the water quality grade for George Watch Lake?
- George Watch Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 270 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.5 µg/L.
Is George Watch Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. George Watch Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 11.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of George Watch Lake?
- George Watch Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is George Watch Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers George Watch Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 34 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
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Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA8 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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