Watkins Mill Lake
Clay County, WisconsinEutrophic
Watkins Mill Lake is a 100-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Clay County, MO. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Clay County, Watkins Mill Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-08-07. 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 3.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 41 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 18.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 41 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.2 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 100 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 9 lakes in Clay County
Nearby Lakes in Clay County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
St. Louis city County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
Shelby County · Clarity: 3.2 ft
Macon County · Clarity: 1.8 ft
Harrison County · Clarity: 1.7 ft
Stone County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
Knox County · Clarity: 2.1 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Watkins Mill Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Watkins Mill State Park Dam (completed 1971), built primarily for recreation on the TR-WILLIAMS CREEK; earth-type dam, 55 ft tall and 1,600 ft long.
- Surface area
- 100 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,600 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,600 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.95 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO. DNR PARKS
All listed purposes: Recreation;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10011 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.11 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-08-07
Monitoring stations: 2