Goose Lake
Goose Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 40 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 75.86 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 76 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 11
- Open water
- 226 days
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 Washington County
Goose Lake is a 76-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Washington County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet (13-foot average). Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 74 other monitored lakes in Washington County, Goose Lake ranks #69 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-25. 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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 40 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 40 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 40 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Goose Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Goose Lake in Washington 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 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Apr (about 44°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 81 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Goose Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Average Depth | 12.6 ft |
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 54% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Goose LakePublic
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.
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (38 observations).
Estimated open water season: 226 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-08 (2000) | 2018-04-30 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-04 (1991) | 1998-12-17 (1998) |
Most recent ice-out: 2019-04-19
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 MN82-0059-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #69 of 75 lakes in Washington County
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Goose Lake
What is the water quality grade for Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 40 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 75.86 acres.
Is Goose Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Goose Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 40 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 81 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet and an average depth of 12.6 feet. The lake covers 75.86 acres.
What fish are in Goose Lake?
- Fish species found in Goose Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow perch. Goose Lake is located in Washington County, Minnesota.
When does Goose Lake thaw?
- Goose Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 11. Ice typically forms around Nov 23. The open water season is approximately 226 days.
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 Goose Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Goose Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
28 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA28 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate