Goose Lake
Pope County, Minnesota324 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Goose Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 17 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Goose Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 3, 2019 caught 1.50 largemouth bass per gill net at Goose Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–18 inches. DNR survey details →
Goose Lake is a 324-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Pope County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 17 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Goose Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing5 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Goose Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Goose Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Goose Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Goose Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 6.1 ft. Phosphorus 185.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 27.6 µg/L. TSI 65.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6.1ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 186µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 27.6µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 65 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Goose Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Goose Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (54°F) to its warmest (78°F).
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 ↗
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 3, 2019 caught 1.50 largemouth bass per gill net at Goose Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–18 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Goose Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-06-03 (Standard Survey).
2 surveys on file · most recent 2019-06-03 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 47.28 | 3–18 in 2019-06-03 | 0.91 lb |
| White Sucker | 6.63 | 8–21 in 2019-06-03 | 1.46 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 2.79 | 8–21 in 2019-06-03 | 1.42 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 1.42 | 4–5 in 2019-06-03 | 0.1 lb |
| Bluegill | 0.83 | 3 in 2019-06-03 | 0.04 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
17 ft
Surface area
324 acres
Shoreline
4.1 mi
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,178 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Goose Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Goose Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Goose Lake
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-4.37 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+5.46 µg/L/yr6 years
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
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN61-0043-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Pope County
Frequently asked questions about Goose Lake
Where is Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake is a lake in Pope County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Goose Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Goose Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 3, 2019 caught 1.50 largemouth bass per gill net at Goose Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–18 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Goose Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Goose Lake?
- Public access to Goose Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Goose Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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