Goose Lake
Goose Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 731.77 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 732 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 6
- Open water
- 240 days
Next lake in Chisago County
Goose Lake is a 732-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Chisago County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 55 feet (15-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Chisago County, Goose Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 30.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 11.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Goose Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Goose Lake in Chisago 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 Goose Lake
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Water Temperature
Goose Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Sep (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 48 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Goose Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Goose Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (229,087 cells/mL) on June 12, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Average Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 732 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 51% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Goose LakePublic
- ResortSemi-private
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Goose 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-17 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 35.29 | 0.22 lb |
| GOS | 24.35 | 0.09 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 16.43 | 1.47 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 12.63 | 0.51 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.63 | 0.12 lb |
| Black Crappie | 9.52 | 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.
Bluegill
GOS
Largemouth Bass
Black Bullhead
From the 2025-07-17 survey
A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community was conducted by Hinckley fisheries staff on Goose Lake on July 17, 2025. Nearshore sampling captured 14 species of fish: Black Crappie, Bluegill, Central Mudminnow, Fathead Minnow, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Goose Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GooseFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GooseFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GoosePublic 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 | ↓ Declining | -0.105 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.55 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (48 observations).
Estimated open water season: 240 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-05 (2024) | 2018-05-02 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-19 (2018) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-04-02
EPA Impairment Status
Goose 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 MN13-0083-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.48 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 30 lakes in Chisago County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Goose Lake holds Grade C. 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 Chisago County
Frequently asked questions about Goose Lake
What is the water quality grade for Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 731.77 acres.
Is Goose Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Goose Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 11.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 48 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 731.77 acres.
What fish are in Goose Lake?
- Fish species found in Goose Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Goose Lake is located in Chisago County, Minnesota.
When does Goose Lake thaw?
- Goose Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 6. Ice typically forms around Dec 2. The open water season is approximately 240 days.
Does Goose Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Goose Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (229,087 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Goose Lake, Resort. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Goose Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Chisago 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
303 measurements from 6 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA303 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (6)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate