Lake Buteo
Johnson County, WisconsinMesotrophic
Lake Buteo is a 8-acre mesotrophic lake in Johnson County, MO. Water quality is graded B based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Johnson County, Lake Buteo ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-08-27. 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 5.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 5 lakes in Johnson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Buteo holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Johnson County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Buteo is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Buteo Dam (completed 1927), built primarily for recreation on the TR-CLEAR FORK BLKWTR RIVER; earth-type dam, 25 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 8 ac
- Normal storage
- 70 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 107 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 225 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO20179 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Buteo 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_7469.00 · 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: 2024-08-27
Monitoring stations: 2