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D

Lake Mallalieu

St. Croix County, WisconsinEutrophic

Lake Mallalieu pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Wisconsin average. Secchi readings are the weakest of the three parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. Lake Mallalieu reaches 17 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 289 acres, Lake Mallalieu fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Lake Mallalieu ranks 4 of 5 in St. Croix County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Lake Mallalieu, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 4, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. A documented public access point at Lake Mallalieu makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-04-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Watch Lake Mallalieu water quality

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Swimming Safety

Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk

Water Quality Grade: D, Poor

Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 54.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)2.8 ftF
Phosphorus54.4 µg/LC
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)62Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth17 ft
Surface Area289 acres
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

→ Best fishing times for Lake Mallalieu (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Lake Mallalieu? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Lake Mallalieu fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Invasive & Introduced Species

Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.

Curly-Leaf PondweedEurasian Water-MilfoilRusty Crayfish

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.125 m/yr6
Phosphorus Stable-0.44 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #4 of 5 lakes in St. Croix County

Nearby Lakes in St. Croix County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2004. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment
Reported
Trophic State Index 67 (eutrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Largemouth Bass(Common)Panfish(Present)Smallmouth Bass(Present)Northern Pike(Present)

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

Lake Mallalieu is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lower Power (completed 1866), built primarily for recreation on the Willow River; gravity-type dam, 22 ft tall and 400 ft long.

Surface area
270 ac
Normal storage
1,388 ac-ft
Max storage
3,000 ac-ft
Drainage area
175 sq mi
Hazard class
Low
Owner
City of Hudson

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00187 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.2 km)

EPA Impairment Status

Lake Mallalieu is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).

Causes of impairment

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10004899 · 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

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory

Most recent sample: 2026-04-10

Monitoring stations: 1

Where to stay near Lake Mallalieu

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Mallalieu in St. Croix County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip.

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