Fourche Creek Lake
Ripley County, WisconsinOligotrophic
Fourche Creek Lake is a 49-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Ripley County, MO. Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Ripley County, Fourche Creek Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2023-08-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 13.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.6 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.3 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 49 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Ripley County
Nearby Lakes in Ripley County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Wisconsin
Jefferson County · Clarity: 12.9 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 14.1 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 11.1 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 14.3 ft
Warren County · Clarity: 12.6 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 16.3 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Fourche Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Fourche Creek Dam (completed 1975), built primarily for recreation on the FOURCHE CREEK; earth-type dam, 60 ft tall and 1,060 ft long.
- Surface area
- 49 ac
- Normal storage
- 1 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 544 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 8 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USDA FS
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO31227 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Fourche Creek 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_7324.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.45 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: 2023-08-16
Monitoring stations: 1