Goose Lake

Goose Lake earns a D — measurements through 2025 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. Of the three parameters, phosphorus is the worst — at 176 µg/L of phosphorus, it keeps the lake susceptible to algal blooms in warm years.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's 220 acres and 6.6 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Goose Lake ranks 8 of 10 in Goodhue County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Goose Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Goose Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. Multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies back the grade, so the letter should hold steady absent a major watershed shift.