Waconda Lake
Mitchell County, Kansas13,500 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Waconda Lake in Mitchell County, Kansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 68 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24 µg/L. Surface area: 13500 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Area
- 13,500 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 68 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 24 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Waconda Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Waconda Lake in Mitchell 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 Waconda Lake are listed below.
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Waconda Lake is a 13,500-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Mitchell County, Kansas. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2016. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KDHE, last sampled 2016-08-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Waconda Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Big water13,500 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Waconda Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), salinity / chlorides. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 68 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 24 µg/L. TSI 62. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 68 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 24 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 13,500 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Waconda Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Waconda-Walnut CreekPublic
- Waconda-State ParkPublic
- Waconda-OsagePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Waconda Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | 0 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +1.25 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +4.25 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Waconda Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Glen Elder Dam (completed 1969), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Soloman River; earth-type dam, 142 ft tall and 15,275 ft long.
- Surface area
- 13,500 ac
- Normal storage
- 241,460 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,107,489 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 5,076.74 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Irrigation;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KS00021 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Waconda 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-LM018001 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Mitchell County
Nearby Lakes in Mitchell County
Frequently asked questions about Waconda Lake
Where is Waconda Lake?
- Waconda Lake is a lake in Mitchell County, Kansas. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Waconda Lake?
- Waconda Lake in Mitchell County, Kansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 68 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24 µg/L. Surface area: 13500 acres.
Is Waconda Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Waconda Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), salinity / chlorides. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Waconda Lake?
- Waconda Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Waconda-Walnut Creek, Waconda-State Park, Waconda-Osage. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Waconda Lake across LakeQuality
More Kansas Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Kansas
Eutrophic Lakes in Kansas
Where this data comes from
11 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2014–2016. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Kansas Department Of Health And Environment
21KAN001_WQX11 samples · 2014–2016
Analytical methods
- Depth, Secchi disk depth
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory