Belcher Branch Lake
Buchanan County, WisconsinEutrophic
Belcher Branch Lake is a 46-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Buchanan County, MO. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2023.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2023-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 44.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 44 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 44.9 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 46 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Buchanan County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Belcher Branch Lake holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BWeatherby LakePlatte County · 24.5 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- DSmithville LakeClay County · 14 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DSmithville Lake by DamClay County · 16.1 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DSmithville LakeClay County · 17.1 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DPony Express LakeDeKalb County · 24.1 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Buchanan County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
St. Louis city County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
Shelby County · Clarity: 3.2 ft
Macon County · Clarity: 1.8 ft
Harrison County · Clarity: 1.7 ft
Stone County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
Knox County · Clarity: 2.1 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Belcher Branch Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Belcher Branch Lake Dam (completed 1992), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the TR-BELCHER BRANCH; earth-type dam, 47 ft tall and 1,397 ft long.
- Surface area
- 46 ac
- Normal storage
- 626 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,765 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.18 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO12290 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Belcher Branch Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MO_7365.00 · 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: 2023-09-20
Monitoring stations: 1