Gonz Lake
Gonz Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 338 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 21.2 µg/L.
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Gonz Lake →
Next lake in Wright County
Gonz Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Wright County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 50 other monitored lakes in Wright County, Gonz Lake ranks #31 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-15. 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 338 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 21.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 74.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 338 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 21.2 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 74 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Gonz Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gonz Lake in Wright 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 Gonz Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Gonz Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Fishing Gonz Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.03 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -36.66 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +4.76 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Gonz 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 MN86-0020-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.87 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Gonz Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Saint Michael WwtpSaint Michael · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MN0020222MajorRecent violation
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 #31 of 51 lakes in Wright County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Gonz Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Wright County
Frequently asked questions about Gonz Lake
What is the water quality grade for Gonz Lake?
- Gonz Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 338 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 21.2 µg/L.
Is Gonz Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Gonz Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 21.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Gonz Lake across LakeGrade
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Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
37 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA37 samples · 2020–2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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)