Morris Lake
Lucas County, WisconsinEutrophic
Morris Lake is a 155-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lucas County, IA. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Lucas County, Morris Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2022-09-06. 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 1.6 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 43.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 43.1 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 155 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Lucas County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Morris Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DBob White LakeWayne County · 21.8 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DRathbun LakeAppanoose County · 22.9 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Lucas County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Morris Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Morris Dam (completed 1993), built primarily for water supply on the LITTLE WHITEBREAST CREEK; earth-type dam, 39 ft tall and 1,060 ft long.
- Surface area
- 155 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,270 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,440 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7.13 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Chariton Municipal Utilities
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01359 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Morris Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 04-LDM-1071 · 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: 2022-09-06
Monitoring stations: 1