Horsethief Canyon Lake
Hodgeman County, Kansas452 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Limited data
Horsethief Canyon Lake in Hodgeman County, Kansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 69 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.5 µg/L. Surface area: 452 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Area
- 452 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 69 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 19.5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Horsethief Canyon Lake is a 452-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hodgeman County, Kansas. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2016. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KDHE, last sampled 2016-06-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 69 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 19.5 µg/L. TSI 63. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 69 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 452 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Horsethief Canyon Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Horsethief Canyon Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.203 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -12.83 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Horsethief Canyon Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Mpd No. 4-10 (Horsethief Reservoir) (completed 2009), built primarily for recreation on the Buckner Creek; earth-type dam, 88 ft tall and 7,210 ft long.
- Surface area
- 452 ac
- Normal storage
- 6,228 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 52,464 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 206.5 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- PAWNEE WJD NO 81
All listed purposes: Recreation;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KS09334 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.16 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Hodgeman County
Nearby Lakes in Hodgeman County
Frequently asked questions about Horsethief Canyon Lake
Where is Horsethief Canyon Lake?
- Horsethief Canyon Lake is a lake in Hodgeman County, Kansas. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Horsethief Canyon Lake?
- Horsethief Canyon Lake in Hodgeman County, Kansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 69 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.5 µg/L. Surface area: 452 acres.
Is Horsethief Canyon Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Horsethief Canyon Lake across LakeQuality
More Kansas Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Kansas
Eutrophic Lakes in Kansas
Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2016. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Kansas Department Of Health And Environment
21KAN001_WQX10 samples · 2013–2016
Analytical methods
- Depth, Secchi disk depth
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.