Lake George is a 538-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Steuben County, Indiana. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Bluegill, Carp, and Catfish. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Steuben County, Lake George ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Indiana DNR, last sampled 2020-07-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 14.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.5 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 538 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake George
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake George
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.246 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.3 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Lake George averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in Jun (about 76°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2012–2018) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake George water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 8 lakes in Steuben County
Nearby Lakes in Steuben County
Explore Lake George across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Indiana
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Northern Indiana Lake Country area
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Indiana's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Indiana Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Indiana
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake George is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake George Dam (completed 1927), built primarily for recreation on the CROOKED CREEK; earth-type dam, 15 ft tall and 405 ft long.
- Surface area
- 537.95 ac
- Normal storage
- 11,100 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 12,200 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 14.7 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- LAKE GEORGE COTTAGERS ASSOCIATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IN00798 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
8 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake George under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Angola Travelers MallAngola · 1.2 mi away · NPDES IN0032891Recent violation
- Xpo Logistics Freight Inc. - XcwFremont · 1.3 mi away · NPDES INRM01163Recent violation
- Consolidated FreightwaysFremont · 1.1 mi away · NPDES IN0048461
- Petro 2 Travel PlazaFremont · 1.1 mi away · NPDES ING080264
- Con-Way FreightFremont · 1.3 mi away · NPDES IN0062634
- Fremont Fedex Freight ExpansionFremont · 1.4 mi away · NPDES INR10K663
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2020-07-21
Monitoring stations: 1