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LakeQuality

Lower George Lake

NR
Not yet rated
3.5 ft clear · Eutrophic
Limited DataEutrophic

Lower George Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility.

Clarity
3.5 ft
Trend
Declining
Public access
No

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AGunflint Lake16.5 ft clear · Cook CountyView →
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Why Lower George 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 Lower George Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.

Lower George Lake is a lake in Cook County, Minnesota. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Not rated

Limited data

Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake

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Water quality measurements for Lower George Lake

These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.

Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 59.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)3.5 ftNot graded
PhosphorusNo recent samples
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No recent samples
Trophic State Index (TSI)59Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Where to stay near Lower George Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower George Lake in Cook 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 Lower George Lake

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

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Fishing Lower George Lake

Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.685 m/yr2

EPA Impairment Status

Lower George Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Mercury

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN16-0460-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.72 km)

Graded lakes near Lower George Lake

Lower George Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.

Nearby Lakes in Cook County

Frequently asked questions about Lower George Lake

What is the water quality grade for Lower George Lake?

Lower George Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility.

Is Lower George Lake safe to swim in?

Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lower George Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota

Where this data comes from

1 measurement 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 WaterMNPCA1 sample · 2024

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