Lower Pine Lake
Hardin County, WisconsinHypereutrophic
Lower Pine Lake is a 85-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Hardin County, IA. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Hardin County, Lower Pine Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-10-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1.3 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 73.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 73.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 73.5 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 73 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 85 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 7 lakes in Hardin County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lower Pine Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Hardin County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Wisconsin
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lower Pine Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lower Pine Lake Dam (completed 1922), built primarily for recreation on the PINE CREEK; earth-type dam, 33 ft tall and 450 ft long.
- Surface area
- 85 ac
- Normal storage
- 360 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 924 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 15.47 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
All listed purposes: Recreation;Other.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01346 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lower Pine Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 02-IOW-758 · 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
Most recent sample: 2024-10-28
Monitoring stations: 1