Lake Lemon is a 1,650-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Monroe County, Indiana. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Catfish and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Monroe County, Lake Lemon ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Indiana DNR, last sampled 2023-07-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,650 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Lemon
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Lemon
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.017 m/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 7 lakes in Monroe County
Nearby Lakes in Monroe County
Explore Lake Lemon across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Indiana
Fish species and best lakes in Monroe County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Indiana's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Indiana Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Indiana
Eutrophic Lakes in Indiana
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Lemon is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Lemon Dam (completed 1952), built primarily for water supply on the BEANBLOSSOM CREEK; earth-type dam, 51 ft tall and 660 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,650 ac
- Normal storage
- 13,300 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 45,700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 70.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Bob Madden
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IN00010 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
8 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Lemon under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Camp Gallahue WwtpFruitdale · 3.4 mi away · NPDES IN0053899Recent violation
- Lake Lemon North Shore Dredge Disposal ProjectUnionville · 1 mi away · NPDES INRA06482
- Lake Lemon Dredge DisposalUnionville · 1.2 mi away · NPDES INRA05878
- Lake Lemon Disposal BasinUnionville · 1.5 mi away · NPDES INRA07207
- Duke Energy Needmore Junction Substation RebuildNashville · 2.8 mi away · NPDES INRA06601
- Lutheran Hills CampTrevlac · 3.2 mi away · NPDES IN0039110
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-07-26
Monitoring stations: 1