Railroad Lake
Scott County, WisconsinEutrophic
Railroad Lake is a 29-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Scott County, IA. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Scott County, Railroad Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 5.1 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 8.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.1 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.3 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 5 lakes in Scott County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Railroad Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Scott County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Railroad Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Railroad Lake Dam (completed 1983), built primarily for recreation on the TR- BLACK HAWK CR.; earth-type dam, 35 ft tall and 525 ft long.
- Surface area
- 29 ac
- Normal storage
- 360 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 750 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.11 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Scott County Conservation Board
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA02208 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Railroad 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 IA 01-NEM-68 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.54 km)
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: 2024-09-10
Monitoring stations: 1