Mcville Dam Lake
Nelson County, WisconsinLimited DataMesotrophic
Mcville Dam Lake is a 33-acre mesotrophic lake in Nelson County, ND. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Nelson County, Mcville Dam Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2025-10-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 33.4 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 9 lakes in Nelson County
Nearby Lakes in Nelson County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Mcville Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Mcville Railroad Dam (completed 1910), built primarily for water supply on the McVille Coulee; earth-type dam, 37 ft tall and 600 ft long.
- Surface area
- 33.4 ac
- Normal storage
- 357 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 701.2 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 13 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- City of McVille
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00177 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.09 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Mcville Dam 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 ND-09020203-007-L_00 · 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: 2025-10-23
Monitoring stations: 1