Badger Creek Max Depth Lake is a 276-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Madison County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Madison County, Badger Creek Max Depth Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-17. 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 1.6 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 77.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 72.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 77.7 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 72 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 276 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Badger Creek Max Depth Lake
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Fishing Badger Creek Max Depth Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.051 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.74 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Badger Creek Max Depth Lake averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in May (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 32 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Badger Creek Max Depth Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Badger Creek Max Depth Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 16 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Madison County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Badger Creek Max Depth Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ATerra Park LakePolk County · 16.9 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- BDale Maffitt ReservoirDallas County · 7 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- DEaster LakePolk County · 19 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Madison County
Explore Badger Creek Max Depth Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Badger Creek Max Depth Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Badger Creek Watershed Site M-1-A (completed 1980), built primarily for recreation on the BADGER CREEK; earth-type dam, 46 ft tall and 1,720 ft long.
- Surface area
- 276 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,480 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 10,950 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 18.44 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA02026 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.25 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Badger Creek Max Depth 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 IA 04-LDM-1100 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.2 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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2024-09-17
Monitoring stations: 1