Is Lake Macbride Safe for Swimming?
Lake Macbride in Johnson County, Iowa has nutrient and algae measurements on record from state and federal monitoring. Chlorophyll-a in the monitoring record runs high enough that algae is a factor. A water-quality reading is not a swimming clearance. The state water agency and county health departments post current advisories; check them before you swim.. Water clarity: 2.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.9 ft |
| Phosphorus | 59 μg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28.5 μg/L |
| Location | Johnson County, Iowa |
How does Lake Macbride compare?
On nutrient and algae readings, Lake Macbride matches or beats the Iowa state average. It ranks #2 of 3 lakes in Johnson County on nutrient and algae readings.
Water clarity (Secchi depth) sits at 2.9 feet. That signals heavy algae or sediment, often tied to high phosphorus from runoff. Algae levels (chlorophyll-a) measure 28.5 µg/L — elevated; risk of harmful algal bloom advisories increases at this concentration.
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