Forest Lake
Adair County, WisconsinMesotrophic
Forest Lake is a 646-acre mesotrophic lake in Adair County, MO. Water quality is graded B based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Adair County, Forest Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Murky, only visible to about 4.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.1 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.8 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 646 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 5 lakes in Adair County
Nearby Lakes in Adair County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Taney County · Clarity: 10 ft
Warren County · Clarity: 5 ft
Taney County · Clarity: 8.7 ft
Clark County · Clarity: 8.5 ft
Warren County · Clarity: 5.9 ft
Stone County · Clarity: 6.9 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Forest Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Forest Lake Dam (completed 1951), built primarily for recreation on the CHARITON RIVER; earth-type dam, 66 ft tall and 1,630 ft long.
- Surface area
- 646 ac
- Normal storage
- 12,431 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 15,961 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 16.41 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF KIRKSVILLE
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10128 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Forest Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MO_7151.00 · Official waterbody report
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: 2024-09-18
Monitoring stations: 2