Lake-source (surface-water) geothermal systems can reduce mechanical cooling energy by leveraging the thermal capacity of large waterbodies, but intake/outfall siting guidance is limited—especially in shallow nearshore zones where stratification, wind-driven circulation, and infrastructure can drive large temperature swings. Discovery World (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) operates a cooling-only open-loop system that exchanges roughly two million gallons per day with Lake Michigan; operators report summertime intake temperatures up to 79°F, exceeding the 75°F design maximum for building heat exchangers and increasing operating cost. This thesis develops a measurement-informed approach to intake siting by combining short-term field monitoring with long-term buoy records and a life-cycle decision screen. Two vertical logger lines with three HOBO MX2201 sensors each were deployed adjacent to the facility: one near the existing intake and one approximately 400 ft lakeward near the pier, recording hourly temperatures at multiple depths from September 28 to October 5, 2025. These observations are contextualized using an EPA nearshore buoy profile dataset (2010–2024; upper ~20 ft) located ~1,230 ft offshore and a nearby shallow real-time buoy (~5 ft). The analysis synthesizes temperature–depth behavior, constraints on constructability, and environmental/maintenance considerations (e.g., thermal discharge, entrainment/impingement, and zebra and quagga mussel fouling) to compare relocation strategies. The resulting temperature profiles and screening framework provide actionable evidence to support intake modifications that balance performance, permitting risk, and long-term maintainability.