Goose Lake

Goose Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Minnesota average. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Minnesota norms.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. A maximum depth of 25 ft puts Goose Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. The lake is compact at 76 acres, with 2.6 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Goose Lake ranks 73 of 83 in Washington County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Goose Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. The fishery is bass-led, with 7 documented species across the lake's records. A documented public access point at Goose Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Ice-out has been recorded 20 times at Goose Lake, with a median around Apr 11. Multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies back the grade, so the letter should hold steady absent a major watershed shift.