Nelson Lake
Oliver County, WisconsinEutrophic
Nelson Lake is a 660-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Oliver County, ND. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Oliver County, Nelson Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2023-10-16. 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 1.3 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 23.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 23.1 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 660 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Oliver County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Nelson Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BArroda LakeOliver County · 11.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CEast Arroda LakeOliver County · 11.7 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Oliver County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Nelson Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Nelson Lake Dam (completed 1967), built primarily for other on the Square Butte Creek; earth-type dam, 66 ft tall and 2,200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 660 ac
- Normal storage
- 10,350 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 20,122 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 146 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Minnkota Power Coop
All listed purposes: Other;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00096 · Operator website
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-10-16
Monitoring stations: 1