German Lake
Le Sueur County, Minnesota889 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for German Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 51 ft max depth
- Public access
German Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 74 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 61.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 51 ft. Surface area: 888.77 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 10, 2024 caught 1.50 walleye per gill net at German Lake. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of German Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 50 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
German Lake is a 889-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 51 feet (13-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 19 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Le Sueur County, German Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
German Lake covers about 890 acres in Le Sueur County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is March 25, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near German Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What German Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing19 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Mar 25
- Deep water51 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. German Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether German Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for German Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for German Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus 74 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 61.9 µg/L. TSI 65.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 74µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 61.9µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 65 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about German Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
German Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Apr (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (54°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 54 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full German Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 10, 2024 caught 1.50 walleye per gill net at German Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows German Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-10 (Standard Survey).
13 surveys on file · most recent 2024-06-10 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 38.12 | 2–9 in 2024-06-10 | 0.19 lb |
| White Crappie | 20.96 | 7 in 2002-06-24 | 0.26 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 17.04 | 12 in 2024-06-10 | 0.71 lb |
| Black Crappie | 13.12 | 3–11 in 2024-06-10 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.29 | 5–10 in 2024-06-10 | 0.17 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
White Crappie
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
From the 2024-06-10 survey
German Lake is an 899-acre lake located in southern Le Sueur County. A DNR-owned public access is located on the north side of the lake off Le Sueur County Road 12. A public fishing pier is located on the west side of the lake near the outlet of East Jefferson Lake. Maximum depth at German Lake is 51 feet and 66% of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for German Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GermanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GermanFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GermanPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
51 ft
Average depth
13 ft
Surface area
889 acres
Shoreline
7.2 mi
Littoral zone
59%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
22 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,007 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- German LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near German Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near German Lake in Le Sueur 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around German Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near German Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing German 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: Worsening
Based on 4 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving4 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+7.32 µg/L/yr3 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+17.06 µg/L/yr3 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Mar 25
Earliest Mar 1, 2024 · Latest Apr 29, 2018
Most recent ice-out
Mar 15
2025
10 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
German Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN40-0063-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Le Sueur County
Frequently asked questions about German Lake
Where is German Lake?
- German Lake is a lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of German Lake?
- German Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 74 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 61.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 51 ft. Surface area: 888.77 acres.
Is German Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. German Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of German Lake?
- German Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October, from 54 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is German Lake?
- German Lake has a maximum depth of 51 feet and an average depth of 13 feet. The lake covers 888.77 acres.
What fish are in German Lake?
- Fish species found in German Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, longnose gar, northern pike, pumpkinseed, shortnose gar, walleye, white bass, white crappie, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. German Lake is located in Le Sueur County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at German Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 10, 2024 caught 1.50 walleye per gill net at German Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows German Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does German Lake thaw?
- German Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 25.
Are there boat ramps on German Lake?
- German Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include German Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at German Lake?
- German Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore German Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Le Sueur County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near German Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare German Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
63 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
MNPCA63 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate