Big Spring Lake
Scott County, KansasView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Impaired · Noxious aquatic plants
- Limited data
Big Spring Lake in Scott County, Kansas is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 0.6 µg/L.
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 0.6 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
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Stays near Big Spring Lake
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Watch Big Spring Lake’s letter
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Why Big Spring 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 Big Spring Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a), but not water clarity.
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 KDHE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Big Spring Lake is a lake in Scott County, Kansas.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KDHE, last sampled 2016-07-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Big Spring Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for noxious aquatic plants, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Big Spring Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 0.6 µg/L. TSI 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 0.6 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Fishing Big Spring Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Big Spring 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 KS-LM011201 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.37 km)
Graded lakes near Big Spring Lake
Big Spring Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Scott County
Frequently asked questions about Big Spring Lake
Where is Big Spring Lake?
- Big Spring Lake is a lake in Scott County, Kansas. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for Big Spring Lake?
- Big Spring Lake in Scott County, Kansas is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 0.6 µg/L.
Is Big Spring Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Big Spring Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for noxious aquatic plants, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Big Spring Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2016. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Kansas Department Of Health And Environment
21KAN001_WQX4 samples · 2013–2016
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database