Council Bluff Lake
Iron County, WisconsinOligotrophic
Council Bluff Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Iron County, MO. Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Council Bluff Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2025-07-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 13.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 5.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.1 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 5.3 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.3 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Iron County
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Wisconsin
Jefferson County · Clarity: 12.9 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 14.1 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 11.1 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 14.3 ft
Warren County · Clarity: 12.6 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 16.3 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Council Bluff Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Council Bluff Dam (completed 1981), built primarily for recreation on the BIG RIVER; earth-type dam, 112 ft tall and 485 ft long.
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USDA FS
All listed purposes: Recreation;Fish and Wildlife Pond.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO31755 · Operator website
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2025-07-29
Monitoring stations: 2