Little Lake
Brown County, Kansas154 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Limited data
Little Lake in Brown County, Kansas is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 250 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 155 µg/L. Surface area: 154 acres.
- Area
- 154 acres
- Phosphorus
- 250 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 155 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
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Stays near Little Lake
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Watch Little Lake’s letter
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Why Little Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Little Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a), but not water clarity.
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by KDHE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Little Lake is a 154-acre lake in Brown County, Kansas. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KDHE, last sampled 2017-08-29. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Little Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Little Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 250 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 155 µg/L. TSI 82.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 250 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 155 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 82 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 154 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Little Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Little Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.002 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -10 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +19.72 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Little Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Mission Lake (completed 1924), built primarily for water supply on the Mission Creek; earth-type dam, 36 ft tall and 1,010 ft long.
- Surface area
- 154 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,070 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,450 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 8.52 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- HORTON, CITY OF
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KS02458 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.42 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Little Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit KS-LM062601 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Little Lake
Little Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Brown County
Frequently asked questions about Little Lake
Where is Little Lake?
- Little Lake is a lake in Brown County, Kansas. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for Little Lake?
- Little Lake in Brown County, Kansas is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 250 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 155 µg/L. Surface area: 154 acres.
Is Little Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Little Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Little Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2017. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Kansas Department Of Health And Environment
21KAN001_WQX4 samples · 2017
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database