Lake Darling
Ward County, WisconsinEutrophic
Lake Darling is a 9,655-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ward County, ND. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Ward County, Lake Darling ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2023-10-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 5.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 395 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.8 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 395 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 9.7K acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in Ward County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Darling holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BLake DarlingRenville County · 0.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- BLake DarlingRenville County · 15.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CLake DarlingRenville County · 9.3 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Ward County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Darling is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Darling Dam (completed 1937), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the SOURIS RIVER; earth-type dam, 39 ft tall and 4,064 ft long.
- Surface area
- 9,655 ac
- Normal storage
- 108,894 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 200,583 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 9,160 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
All listed purposes: Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00332 · Operator website
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-10-12
Monitoring stations: 1