King Lake
DeKalb County, WisconsinHypereutrophic
King Lake is a 184-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in DeKalb County, MO. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in DeKalb County, King Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-06-10. 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 0.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 186 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 39.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 77.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 186 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 39.2 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 184 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 6 lakes in DeKalb County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
King Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CHappy Holler LakeAndrew County · 15.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DBuffalo Bill Lake Nr. AccessDeKalb County · 14.5 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DPony Express LakeDeKalb County · 15.4 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DHamilton LakeCaldwell County · 28.7 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DBuffalo Bill Lake 0.4 Mi From DamDeKalb County · 14.4 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in DeKalb 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
St. Francois County · Clarity: 1.1 ft
Saline County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
Polk County · Clarity: 1.2 ft
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
King Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the King Lake Dam (completed 1971), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the LOST CREEK; earth-type dam, 40 ft tall and 1,920 ft long.
- Surface area
- 184 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,293 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,773 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 19.06 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10384 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
King 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_7112.00 · 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: 2024-06-10
Monitoring stations: 2