Goose Lake
Goose Lake in Goodhue County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 0.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 179 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 60.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5.7 ft. Surface area: 220.26 acres.
- Clarity
- 0.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 5.7 ft
- Area
- 220 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Goose Lake →
Next lake in Goodhue County
Goose Lake is a 220-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Goodhue County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 6 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Goodhue County, Goose Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2026-06-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria B
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Goose Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 3.3% of 90 samples across 8 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Minnesota’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 0.4 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 179 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 60.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 80.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 179 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 60.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 80 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Goose Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Goose Lake in Goodhue 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 Goose Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Goose Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Goose Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 102 field readings (2010–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Goose Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 5.7 ft |
| Surface Area | 220 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 76% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Cannon BottomsPublic
Fishing Goose Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1990-08-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| EMS | 38.33 | — |
| GIS | 23.86 | 0.12 lb |
| Bowfin | 2.32 | 3.56 lb |
| Bluegill | 2.05 | 0.14 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 1.95 | 0.72 lb |
| White Crappie | 1.75 | 0.45 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1990-08-08 survey
THE TRAPNET SAMPLING BEING DONE IS TARGETED AT BLUEGILL AND BLACK AND WHITE CRAPPIE. THESE SPEC- IES ARE EXPECTED TO RESPOND TO THE HABITAT CHANGES CAUSED BY THE RAHABILITATION PROJECT. COMPARED WITH PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS, BLACK CRAPPIE AND BLUEGILL WERE LOW IN NUMBERS WITH AVERAGE GROWTH FOR THE AREA. NORTHERN PIKE…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Goose Lake. 1 report 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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.95 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -3.83 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -7.21 µg/L/yr | 7 |
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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN25-0017-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.74 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 9 lakes in Goodhue County
Nearby Lakes in Goodhue County
Frequently asked questions about Goose Lake
What is the water quality grade for Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake in Goodhue County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 0.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 179 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 60.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5.7 ft. Surface area: 220.26 acres.
Is Goose Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Goose Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 3.3% of 90 samples across 8 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of B — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Goose Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Minnesota's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 102 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake has a maximum depth of 5.7 feet. The lake covers 220.26 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cannon Bottoms. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Goose Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
187 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Prairie Island Indian Community
PIIC_WQX187 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- PIIC_QAPP
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory