Buffalo Lodge Lake
McHenry County, WisconsinEutrophic
Buffalo Lodge Lake is a 1,395-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in McHenry County, ND. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in McHenry County, Buffalo Lodge Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2021-10-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 2.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.6 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1.4K acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in McHenry County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Buffalo Lodge Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in McHenry County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Buffalo Lodge Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Buffalo Lodge Lake Dam, built primarily for recreation on the South Egg Creek; earth-type dam, 12 ft tall and 1,500 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,395 ac
- Normal storage
- 12,510 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 20,775 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 230.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- McHenry County WRB
All listed purposes: Recreation;Fish and Wildlife Pond.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND01143 · Operator website
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2021-10-11
Monitoring stations: 1