Hemitite Lake
St. Francois County, WisconsinHypereutrophic
Hemitite Lake is a 220-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in St. Francois County, MO. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in St. Francois County, Hemitite Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-08-13. 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 1.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 186.9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 91.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 77.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 186.9 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 91.9 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 220 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in St. Francois County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Hemitite Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ALake CapriSt. Francois County · 11.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- ALake Marseilles-Terre du Lac LakesSt. Francois County · 11.4 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- ALake Shayne-Terre du Lac LakesWashington County · 11.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- ACouncil Bluff LakeIron County · 14.9 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- ATimberline LakesSt. Francois County · 18.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
Nearby Lakes in St. Francois County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Wisconsin
St. Louis County · Clarity: 1.6 ft
Jackson County · Clarity: 2 ft
St. Charles County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
Saline County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
Polk County · Clarity: 1.2 ft
Callaway County · Clarity: 1.7 ft
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Hemitite Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hematite Lake Dam (completed 1944), built primarily for water supply on the ST FRANCOIS RIVER; gravity-type dam, 24 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 220 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,760 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,825 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 10,250 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- HANNA MINING CO
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30001 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.1 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Hemitite 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_7331.00 · 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: 2024-08-13
Monitoring stations: 2