Cowley Co State Fishing Lake
Cowley County, KansasView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Public access
- Limited data
Cowley Co State Fishing Lake in Cowley County, Kansas is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Phosphorus
- 26.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 19.5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Cowley Co State Fishing Lake’s letter
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Why Cowley Co State Fishing Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Cowley Co State Fishing Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by KDHE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Cowley Co State Fishing Lake is a lake in Cowley County, Kansas. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KDHE, last sampled 2014-08-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Cowley Co State Fishing Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Cowley Co State Fishing Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 19.5 µg/L. TSI 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Fishing Cowley Co State Fishing Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.039 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -6.2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.12 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Cowley Co State Fishing Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the (completed 1953) on the Panther Creek, 47 ft tall and 880 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 1,380 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,070 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- KANSAS DEPT OF WILDLIFE PARKS & TOURISM
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KS00868 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.13 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Cowley Co State Fishing Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit KS-LM013401 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.47 km)
Nearby Lakes in Cowley County
Frequently asked questions about Cowley Co State Fishing Lake
Where is Cowley Co State Fishing Lake?
- Cowley Co State Fishing Lake is a lake in Cowley County, Kansas. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for Cowley Co State Fishing Lake?
- Cowley Co State Fishing Lake in Cowley County, Kansas is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.5 µg/L.
Is Cowley Co State Fishing Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Cowley Co State Fishing Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2014. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Kansas Department Of Health And Environment
21KAN001_WQX5 samples · 2014
Analytical methods
- Depth, Secchi disk depth
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database