Goose Lake
Goose Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 185.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 323.83 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 78°F
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 324 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Goose Lake →
Next lake in Pope County
Goose Lake is a 324-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Pope County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including black bullhead, bluegill, and green sunfish. Public access is available. Compared to the 19 other monitored lakes in Pope County, Goose Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Murky, only visible to about 6.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 185.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 27.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 185.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 27.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Goose Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Goose Lake in Pope 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
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 →
Water Temperature
Goose Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 29 field readings (2010–2019) 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 (469,894 cells/mL) on July 18, 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 | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 324 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.1 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Goose Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-06-03 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 47.28 | 0.91 lb |
| White Sucker | 6.63 | 1.46 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 2.79 | 1.42 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 1.42 | 0.1 lb |
| Bluegill | 0.83 | 0.04 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.
Largemouth Bass
White Sucker
Black Bullhead
Green Sunfish
From the 2019-06-03 survey
Goose Lake is a shallow basin located five miles south of Terrace in Pope County. Maximum depth is approximately 17.0 feet. Winterkill events were common on Goose Lake prior to water levels rising in recent decades. Increasing water levels are evidenced by dead standing timber fringing the shoreline. Increased depth…
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: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.025 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.37 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5.46 µg/L/yr | 6 |
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 MN61-0043-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 20 lakes in Pope County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Goose Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Pope County
Frequently asked questions about Goose Lake
What is the water quality grade for Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 185.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 323.83 acres.
Is Goose 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. Goose Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 27.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 29 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2019). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 323.83 acres.
What fish are in Goose Lake?
- Fish species found in Goose Lake include black bullhead, bluegill, green sunfish, largemouth bass, white sucker. Goose Lake is located in Pope County, Minnesota.
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 (469,894 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Explore Goose Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Pope County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA10 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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