Ben Branch Lake by Dam
Osage County, WisconsinEutrophic
Ben Branch Lake by Dam is a 44-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Osage County, MO. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2022.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2022-07-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 30.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 22.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 30.4 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 22.8 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 44 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Osage County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Ben Branch Lake by Dam holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BSeetal LakeGasconade County · 20.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CPeaceful Valley LakeGasconade County · 19.9 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CLost Valley LakeGasconade County · 22.6 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CPeaceful Valley LakeGasconade County · 19.9 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CCrow PondCallaway County · 22.7 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Osage 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)
Ben Branch Lake by Dam is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Ben Branch Dam (completed 1984), built primarily for recreation on the BEN BRANCH; earth-type dam, 51 ft tall and 850 ft long.
- Surface area
- 44 ac
- Normal storage
- 675 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,210 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.98 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
All listed purposes: Recreation;Fish and Wildlife Pond.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO31844 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.09 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Ben Branch Lake by Dam 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_7186.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.31 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
Most recent sample: 2022-07-29
Monitoring stations: 2