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LakeQuality
D

Sheep Creek Dam Lake

Grant County, WisconsinEutrophic

Sheep Creek Dam Lake is a 87-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Grant County, ND. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Grant County, Sheep Creek Dam Lake ranks #6 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2023-10-20. 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 2.7 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 15 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)2.7 ftF
PhosphorusNo data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)15 µg/LC
Trophic State Index (TSI)60Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Surface Area87 acres

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #6 of 6 lakes in Grant County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Sheep Creek Dam Lake holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

See full comparison →

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Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin

Dry Lake

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Lake Alice

Ramsey County · Clarity: 3.1 ft

E. A. Patterson Lake

Stark County · Clarity: 5.3 ft

Lake Irvine

Ramsey County · Clarity: 2.9 ft

Lake Laretta

Nelson County · Clarity: 3.8 ft

Sweetwater Lake

Ramsey County · Clarity: 2.9 ft

Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Lake AliceJ. Clark Salyer Pool 357E. A. Patterson LakeLake Irvine

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

Sheep Creek Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Sheep Creek Dam (completed 1969), built primarily for recreation on the Sheep Creek; earth-type dam, 61 ft tall and 1,050 ft long.

Surface area
87 ac
Normal storage
1,180 ac-ft
Max storage
2,960 ac-ft
Drainage area
57.9 sq mi
Hazard class
Low
Owner
Grant County WRB

All listed purposes: Recreation;Fish and Wildlife Pond.

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00004 · Operator website

EPA Impairment Status

Sheep Creek Dam Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).

Causes of impairment

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit ND-10130204-001-L_00 · 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: 2023-10-20

Monitoring stations: 1