Badger Lake
Webster County, WisconsinEutrophic
Badger Lake is a 50-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Webster County, IA. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Webster County, Badger Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 33.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 33.3 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 50 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Webster County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Badger Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Webster County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Badger Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Badger Lake Dam (completed 1963), built primarily for recreation on the BADGER CREEK; earth-type dam, 35 ft tall and 593 ft long.
- Surface area
- 50 ac
- Normal storage
- 400 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 865 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 19 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Webster County Conservation Board
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01156 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Badger Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 04-UDM-1291 · Official waterbody report
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
Most recent sample: 2024-09-19
Monitoring stations: 1