Crowley Flowage Lake
Price County, WisconsinLimited DataEutrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric Crowley Flowage Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 61 and persistent algal pressure put it in the bottom tier. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
At a TSI of 61, Crowley Flowage Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. At 422 acres, Crowley Flowage Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Within the 27 graded lakes of Price County, Crowley Flowage Lake sits at rank 24, near the bottom of the county list.
Crowley Flowage Lake has no invasive species recorded in Wisconsin state databases as of 2020, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Crowley Flowage Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2020-08-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 422 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #24 of 27 lakes in Price County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Crowley Flowage Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Price County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Crowley Flowage Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Crowley (completed 1930), built primarily for hydroelectric on the North Fork Flambeau; gravity-type dam, 23 ft tall and 513 ft long.
- Surface area
- 422 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,540 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,540 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 820 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Flambeau Hydro, Llc
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00788 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Crowley Flowage 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 WI10003669 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.81 km)
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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2020-08-12
Monitoring stations: 1
Where to stay near Crowley Flowage Lake
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