Monroe Lake

{{Short description|Reservoir in Brown and Monroe counties, Indiana, U.S.}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Monroe Lake

| image = Monroe Lake 2019 aerial.jpg

| caption = Aerial of Monroe Lake in 2019

| image_bathymetry =

| caption_bathymetry =

| location = Monroe / Brown counties, Indiana, United States

| coords = {{coord|39.0587|-86.4464|format=dms|type:waterbody_region:US-IN|display=inline,title}}

| type = Reservoir

| inflow = Salt Creek

| outflow = Salt Creek

| catchment =

| basin_countries = United States

| length =

| width =

| area = {{convert|10750|acre|abbr=on}}

| depth =

| max-depth = {{convert|18|m|order=flip|abbr=on}}

| volume = {{convert|292|to|428|e6m3|ft3|sp=us|order=flip}}

| residence_time = 185–408 days

| shore = {{cvt|190|mile}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.lakelubbers.com/indiana-lakes-longest-shorelines-L25-C2/|title = Longest Lake Shorelines - Lake Shoreline Lengths in Miles - LakeLubbers}}

| elevation = {{convert|538|ft|abbr=on}}

| islands =

| cities =

| pushpin_map = Indiana#USA

| pushpin_label_position =

| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Monroe Lake in Indiana, USA.

| pushpin_map_caption =

| website =

| reference =

}}

Monroe Lake (also referred to as Lake Monroe{{Cite web |title=Lake Monroe {{!}} City of Bloomington, Indiana |url=https://bloomington.in.gov/locations/lake-monroe |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=bloomington.in.gov}}) is a reservoir located about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Bloomington, Indiana, United States. The lake is the largest entirely situated in Indiana with {{convert|10,750|acre|km2}} of water surface area spread over the counties of Monroe and Brown. Capacity varies from {{convert|292|GL|acre ft}} to {{convert|428|GL|acre ft}}{{cite web|last=Cole|first=Thomas|title=Water Quality Modeling of Lake Monroe Using CE-QUAL-W2|url=http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/mpel99-1.pdf|publisher=US Army Corps of Engineers|accessdate=30 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728081726/http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/mpel99-1.pdf|archive-date=28 July 2013|url-status=dead}} depending on water level. It is also home to {{convert|13,202|acre|km2}} of protected forest and three recreational areas (Fairfax, Hardin Ridge, and Paynetown). Indiana's only federally protected U.S. Wilderness Area, the {{convert|13000|acre|km2|adj=on}} Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area, is located on the south shore. The lake's watershed is 441 square miles, 82% of which is forested or farmland.{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.friendsoflakemonroe.org/about |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Friends of Lake Monroe |language=en-US}} The pool elevation (above sea level) is about {{convert|538|ft}} year-round. During colder winters, limited ice fishing is available on protected backwater portions of the reservoir.

Ransburg Scout Reservation, a large Boy Scout camp comprising over {{convert|624|acres}}, is situated along the eastern shore with a private dock system in Siscoe Bay (also known as Boy Scout Bay). The largest marina situated on the lake is the Fourwinds Resort and Marina with over 800 boats. The reservoir provides abundant fishing throughout the year, and recreational opportunities such as boating and water skiing attract visitors from throughout Indiana and the Midwest.