Little Prairie Lake by Dam
Phelps County, WisconsinEutrophic
Little Prairie Lake by Dam is a 100-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Phelps County, MO. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Phelps County, Little Prairie Lake by Dam ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-08-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 24.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.9 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 24.5 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.3 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 100 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Phelps County
Nearby Lakes in Phelps County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Warren County · Clarity: 3.8 ft
Ralls County · Clarity: 3.7 ft
Warren County · Clarity: 3.3 ft
Platte County · Clarity: 4.7 ft
Barry County · Clarity: 5 ft
Randolph County · Clarity: 3.6 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Little Prairie Lake by Dam is a man-made reservoir impounded by the William E. Towell Dam (completed 1965), built primarily for recreation on the TRIBUTARY OF BOUBEUSE RIVER; earth-type dam, 48 ft tall and 1,450 ft long.
- Surface area
- 100 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,300 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,490 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.41 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30090 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.15 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Little Prairie Lake by Dam 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_7287.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.48 km)
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: 2024-08-14
Monitoring stations: 1