Meadow Lake
Adair County, WisconsinEutrophic
Meadow Lake is a 42-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Adair County, IA. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Adair County, Meadow Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-09-29. 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 1.7 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 53.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.7 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 53.1 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 5 lakes in Adair County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Meadow Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CMormon Trail LakeAdair County · 14.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DNodaway LakeAdair County · 7.4 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Adair County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Meadow Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Meadow Lake Dam (completed 1964), built primarily for recreation on the TR-NORTH TURKEY CREEK; earth-type dam, 39 ft tall and 920 ft long.
- Surface area
- 42 ac
- Normal storage
- 293 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 770 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.31 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA00020 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Meadow 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 04-LDM-1089 · 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: 2024-09-29
Monitoring stations: 1