Clearwater Lake
Reynolds County, WisconsinEutrophic
Clearwater Lake is a 1,630-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Reynolds County, MO. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Reynolds County, Clearwater Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-09-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 20.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 20.3 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.9 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1.6K acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Reynolds County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Clearwater Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Reynolds County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Warren County · Clarity: 3.8 ft
Ralls County · Clarity: 3.7 ft
Warren County · Clarity: 3.3 ft
Platte County · Clarity: 4.7 ft
Barry County · Clarity: 5 ft
Phelps County · Clarity: 4.9 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Clearwater Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Clearwater Dam (completed 1942), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the BLACK; earth-type dam, 155 ft tall and 4,225 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,630 ac
- Normal storage
- 22,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 413,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 898 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Little Rock District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30203 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Clearwater 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 MO_7326.00 · 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: 2024-09-02
Monitoring stations: 1