Is Lake of the Hills Safe for Swimming?
Lake of the Hills in Scott 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: 5.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 53 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.1 ft |
| Phosphorus | 53 μg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 16.8 μg/L |
| Location | Scott County, Iowa |
How does Lake of the Hills compare?
On nutrient and algae readings, Lake of the Hills matches or beats the Iowa state average. It ranks #4 of 5 lakes in Scott County on nutrient and algae readings.
Water clarity (Secchi depth) sits at 5.1 feet. That falls into moderate clarity — typical for lakes with some nutrient enrichment. Algae levels (chlorophyll-a) measure 16.8 µg/L — moderate; acceptable for swimming on most days, but worth checking advisories.
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