Bowman-Haley Dam Lake
Bowman County, WisconsinEutrophic
Bowman-Haley Dam Lake is a 1,750-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Bowman County, ND. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Bowman County, Bowman-Haley Dam Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2025-09-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 13.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.4 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1.8K acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Bowman County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Bowman-Haley Dam Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BLutz Dam LakeBowman County · 21.2 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
- CKalina Dam LakeBowman County · 15.6 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Bowman County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Bowman-Haley Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Bowman-Haley Dam (completed 1967), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the NORTH FORK GRAND RIVER; earth-type dam, 79 ft tall and 5,730 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,750 ac
- Normal storage
- 19,780 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 171,838 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 471 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Omaha District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00147 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Bowman-Haley Dam 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 ND-10130301-001-L_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: 2025-09-30
Monitoring stations: 1