Bear Butte Lake
Bear Butte Lake in Meade County, South Dakota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Surface area: 199 acres.
- Area
- 199 acres
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Bear Butte Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: 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 Bear Butte Lake, no water-quality sampling on record for this lake.
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 SD DANR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Bear Butte Lake is a 199-acre lake in Meade County, South Dakota. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, SD DANR, last sampled recent years. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Bear Butte Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedElevated nutrients
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Bear Butte Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Trophic State Index: undefined.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) |
Where to stay near Bear Butte Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bear Butte Lake in Meade County, South Dakota — 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 Bear Butte Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 199 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Bear Butte Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Bear Butte Land Use AreaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Bear Butte Lake
Nearby Lakes in Meade County
Frequently asked questions about Bear Butte Lake
Where is Bear Butte Lake?
- Bear Butte Lake is a lake in Meade County, South Dakota. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no water-quality sampling on record for this lake.
What is the water quality grade for Bear Butte Lake?
- Bear Butte Lake in Meade County, South Dakota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Surface area: 199 acres.
Is Bear Butte Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Bear Butte Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Bear Butte Lake?
- Bear Butte Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bear Butte Land Use Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bear Butte Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
Measurements for Bear Butte Lake come from the EPA Water Quality Portal. Per-sample source details are not recorded for this lake.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory