Ellis Lake
Lucas County, WisconsinEutrophic
Ellis Lake is a 80-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lucas County, IA. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Lucas County, Ellis Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2022-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 35.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 35.6 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 80 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Lucas County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Ellis Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DBob White LakeWayne County · 21.6 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DRathbun LakeAppanoose County · 23.1 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Lucas County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Ellis Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Ellis Dam (completed 1993), built primarily for water supply on the TR-LITTLE WHITEBREAST CREEK; earth-type dam, 38 ft tall and 900 ft long.
- Surface area
- 80 ac
- Normal storage
- 803 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,463 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Chariton Municipal Utilities
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01358 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Ellis 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 IA 04-LDM-1071 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.06 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
Most recent sample: 2022-09-06
Monitoring stations: 1