Goose Lake
Goose Lake in Wright County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 51.93 acres.
Minnesota DNR surveys at Goose Lake average 3.90 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 21, 2013. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–19 inches. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 80°F
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 52 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Wright County
Why Goose Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Goose Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Goose Lake is a 52-acre lake in Wright County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 14 feet (5-foot average). The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Goose Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Goose Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Goose Lake in Wright 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Goose Lake
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Water Temperature
Goose Lake typically sits around 80°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in Oct (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 47 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Goose Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR surveys at Goose Lake average 3.90 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 21, 2013. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–19 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Goose Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2013-08-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 86.08 | 0.3 lb |
| Black Crappie | 16.78 | 0.16 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 10.67 | 0.1 lb |
| Bluegill | 10.33 | 0.23 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 5.00 | 0.16 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 3.90 | 1.77 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This 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.
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2013-08-21 survey
Goose Lake is a 42 acre lake located southwest of the city of Buffalo in Wright County. The maximum depth is 14 feet and water clarity in 2013 was poor. The lake has a small watershed of mostly pasture and cropland. Goose Lake outlets to Deer Lake, which has a public access. The lake was last surveyed in 1988. Aquatic…
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
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Average Depth | 4.6 ft |
| Surface Area | 52 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
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.
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.006 m/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Goose Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Deer Lake (completed 1940), built primarily for recreation on the Crow River N Fork-TR; gravity-type dam, 11 ft tall and 55 ft long.
- Surface area
- 163 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,435 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,050 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 50 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR-Wildlife
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00402 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.69 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Goose Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN86-0107-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.53 km)
Graded lakes near Goose Lake
Goose Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Wright County
Frequently asked questions about Goose Lake
What is the water quality grade for Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake in Wright County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 51.93 acres.
Is Goose Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Goose Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake typically sits around 80°F at the surface in August, from 47 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Goose Lake?
- Goose Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet and an average depth of 4.6 feet. The lake covers 51.93 acres.
What fish are in Goose Lake?
- Fish species found in Goose Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), channel catfish, common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Goose Lake is located in Wright County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Goose Lake?
- Minnesota DNR surveys at Goose Lake average 3.90 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 21, 2013. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–19 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Goose Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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.
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Where this data comes from
68 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA68 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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