Critzer Lake
Linn County, Kansas212 acresView 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.
- Limited data
Critzer Lake in Linn County, Kansas is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.5 µg/L. Surface area: 212 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.6 ft
- Area
- 212 acres
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 12.5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Watch Critzer Lake’s letter
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Why Critzer 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 Critzer 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.
Critzer Lake is a 212-acre lake in Linn County, Kansas. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KDHE, last sampled 2018-05-29. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Critzer Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6.6 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 12.5 µg/L. TSI 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 212 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Critzer Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Critzer Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.4 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -4 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Critzer Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Critzer Dam (completed 2006), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the North Fork Little Sugar Creek; earth-type dam, 72 ft tall and 1,696 ft long.
- Surface area
- 212 ac
- Normal storage
- 4,270 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 9,464 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 13.34 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MARAIS DES CYGNES PWWSD NO 13
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KS09291 · Operator website
Graded lakes near Critzer Lake
Critzer Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Linn County
Frequently asked questions about Critzer Lake
Where is Critzer Lake?
- Critzer Lake is a lake in Linn 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 Critzer Lake?
- Critzer Lake in Linn County, Kansas is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.5 µg/L. Surface area: 212 acres.
Is Critzer Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Critzer Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Kansas Department Of Health And Environment
21KAN001_WQX14 samples · 2012–2018
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.