Short Creek Dam Lake
Burke County, WisconsinEutrophic
Short Creek Dam Lake is a 112-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Burke County, ND. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Burke County, Short Creek Dam Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2021-10-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 3.8 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 9.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.8 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.3 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 112 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Burke County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Short Creek Dam Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BBaukol-Noonan Dam LakeDivide County · 11.3 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
- BNorthgate Dam LakeBurke County · 23.9 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
Nearby Lakes in Burke County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Short Creek Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Short Creek Dam 1 (completed 1962), built primarily for recreation on the East Branch Short Creek; earth-type dam, 38 ft tall and 1,018 ft long.
- Surface area
- 112 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,200 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,765 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 164 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- ND Game & Fish
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00018 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.39 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Short 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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit ND-09010007-001-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: 2021-10-12
Monitoring stations: 1