Macon City Lake
Macon County, WisconsinEutrophic
Macon City Lake is a 205-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Macon County, MO. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Macon County, Macon City Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-08-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 1.9 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 52.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 21.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.9 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 52.2 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 21.9 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 205 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in Macon County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Macon City Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CThomas Hill Lake @ Hwy TMacon County · 11.1 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- DLong Branch Lk. LakeMacon County · 1.1 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DSugar Creek LakeRandolph County · 18.9 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Macon County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
St. Louis city County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
Shelby County · Clarity: 3.2 ft
Harrison County · Clarity: 1.7 ft
Stone County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
Knox County · Clarity: 2.1 ft
Camden County · Clarity: 2.7 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Macon City Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Macon Lake Dam (completed 1927), built primarily for water supply on the DUCK CREEK; earth-type dam, 42 ft tall and 1,200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 205 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,250 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,250 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6.33 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF MACON
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10153 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.16 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Macon City Lake 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_7168.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.07 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: 2024-08-07
Monitoring stations: 1