Browns Lake
Woodbury County, WisconsinHypereutrophic
Browns Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Woodbury County, IA. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Woodbury County, Browns Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-09-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 0.6 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 61.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 78.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 61.6 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 78 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Woodbury County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Browns Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CLittle Sioux Park LakeWoodbury County · 28.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DSnyder Bend LakeWoodbury County · 1.9 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Woodbury County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Wisconsin
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
EPA Impairment Status
Browns Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 06-WEM-1735 · 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: 2024-09-03
Monitoring stations: 1