Brushy Creek Lake
Webster County, WisconsinEutrophic
Brushy Creek Lake is a 690-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Webster County, IA. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Webster County, Brushy Creek Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-10-22. 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 2.8 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 44.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 44.5 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 690 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Webster County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Brushy Creek Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Webster County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Brushy Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Brushy Creek Dam (completed 1998), built primarily for recreation on the BRUSHY CREEK; earth-type dam, 100 ft tall and 1,950 ft long.
- Surface area
- 690 ac
- Normal storage
- 19,660 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 31,645 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 88.06 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA03116 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Brushy Creek 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 IA 04-UDM-1276 · 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: 2024-10-22
Monitoring stations: 1