Binder Lake
Cole County, WisconsinEutrophic
Binder Lake is a 138-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cole County, MO. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2021. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Cole County, Binder Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2021-07-21. 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 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 54.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 32.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 54.5 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 32.1 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 138 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Cole County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Binder Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CMckee PondBoone County · 5.3 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CPhillips LakeBoone County · 20.3 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CBethel LakeBoone County · 20.8 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Cole 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)
Binder Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Binder Community Lake Dam (completed 1966), built primarily for recreation on the DICKERSON CR; earth-type dam, 48 ft tall and 1,200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 138 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,312 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,312 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6.2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30051 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.11 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Binder 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_7185.00 · 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: 2021-07-21
Monitoring stations: 2