Goose Lake
Wright County, MinnesotaLimited DataEutrophic
Goose Lake earns an F: phosphorus readings still being added and clarity at 2.5 ft signal heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed.
At a TSI of 64, Goose Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. Goose Lake is a shallow lake at 14 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. The lake is compact at 52 acres, with 1.3 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Within the 64 graded lakes of Wright County, Goose Lake sits at rank 52, near the bottom of the county list.
Zebra mussels have been documented at Goose Lake, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. Walleye are documented at Goose Lake, one of 13 fish species on record for the lake. No formal public access is documented at Goose Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-04. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Average Depth | 4.6 ft |
| Surface Area | 51.93 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Goose Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Goose Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Goose Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
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: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.061 m/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #52 of 64 lakes in Wright County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Goose Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Wright County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Goose Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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 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 = 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.
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.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GooseFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2024-10-04
Monitoring stations: 1