O'Dowd Lake

Quick Facts

  • DNR Lake ID Number:  70-009500
  • Surface Area:  300.52 acres
  • Littoral Area:  235 acres
  • Lake Watershed Area:  
  • Maximum Depth:  22 feet
  • Shore Length: 9.27 miles  
  • Ordinary High Water Level:  945.2 feet above sea level
  • Public Boat Access:  One DNR public access is available off Townline Ave/C.R. 79
  • Water Quality Impairment Status:  Impaired for mercury and fish bioassessments
  • Ecoregion: North Central Hardwood Forest

Project Fact Sheets

Water Quality 2005 - 2021

O’Dowd Lake meets water quality standards for total phosphorus, chlorophyll-a and transparency.  Below is the most recent water quality data collected annually by Citizen-Assisted Lake Monitoring Program (CAMP) volunteers.  As you can see from the chart below, all three parameters have been improving since 2005.  O’Dowd Lake was removed from the federal impaired waters list in 2016 for excess nutrients.

Odowd chart


Aquatic Invasive Species

O’Dowd Lake is infested with the aquatic invasive species Potamogeton crispus or curly-leaf pondweed since before 1995 and with Myriophyllum spicatum or Eurasian watermilfoil since 2002. 

Lake Vegetation Surveys 

2008, 2009, 2012, 2013

Picture4

white water lily on O'Dowd Lake