Pierson Lake
Wyandotte County, Kansas12 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #3 of 4 in the county
Pierson Lake in Wyandotte County, Kansas has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 88.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 33.3 µg/L. Surface area: 11.7 acres.
- Area
- 12 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 88.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 33.3 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Pierson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pierson Lake in Wyandotte County, Kansas — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Pierson Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Pierson Lake
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Watch Pierson Lake’s letter
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Pierson Lake is a 12-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Wyandotte County, Kansas. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Wyandotte County, Pierson Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KDHE, last sampled 2024-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Pierson Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 88.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 33.3 µg/L. TSI 67. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 88.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 33.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Pierson Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Pierson Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 10 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +4.4 µg/L/yr | 10 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.03 µg/L/yr | 10 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Pierson Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Pierson Park Dam (completed 1968), built primarily for recreation on the Barber Creek-Tr; earth-type dam, 45 ft tall and 1,150 ft long.
- Surface area
- 11.7 ac
- Normal storage
- 89 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 390 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.85 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- WYANDOTTE COUNTY, UNIFIED GOVT OF
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KS02556 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.23 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Pierson Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit KS-LM061801 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.05 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Wyandotte County
Nearby Lakes in Wyandotte County
Frequently asked questions about Pierson Lake
Where is Pierson Lake?
- Pierson Lake is a lake in Wyandotte County, Kansas. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Pierson Lake?
- Pierson Lake in Wyandotte County, Kansas has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 88.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 33.3 µg/L. Surface area: 11.7 acres.
Is Pierson Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Pierson Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Pierson Lake across LakeQuality
More Kansas Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Kansas
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Kansas
Where this data comes from
69 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- EPA R7
EPA_R7_WQX69 samples · 2012–2024
Analytical methods
- Nutrient Analysis
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Chlorophyll a
- Fluorometric Analysis of Chlorophyll a (originally 2334.22A)
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- Total Nitrogen Calculation
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database