Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access
DeKalb County, WisconsinEutrophic
Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access is a 45-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in DeKalb County, MO. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in DeKalb County, Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-08-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 71.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 24.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 71.3 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 24.3 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 6 lakes in DeKalb County
Nearby Lakes in DeKalb 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)
Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Buffalo Bill Dam (completed 1990), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the TRIB WEST FORK LOST CREEK; earth-type dam, 41 ft tall and 750 ft long.
- Surface area
- 45 ac
- Normal storage
- 271 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 271 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.13 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO12201 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.13 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access 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_7117.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.35 km)
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: 2024-08-07
Monitoring stations: 1