Lakes With Algae Readings in Iowa
50 lakes in Iowa report elevated algae levels (chlorophyll-a above 20 µg/L). These lakes are most likely to develop blue-green algae blooms during warm, calm summer weather. Avoid swimming during visible blooms and rinse pets after contact.
Ranked List
| # | Lake | County | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Lake | Linn | — | 0.9 ft | 256.5 µg/L | 125.4 µg/L |
| 2 | Hannen Lake | Benton | — | 1.2 ft | 141 µg/L | 119.9 µg/L |
| 3 | Meyers Lake | Black Hawk | — | 1.1 ft | 183.5 µg/L | 116.5 µg/L |
| 4 | Rock Creek Max Depth Lake | Jasper | — | 1.1 ft | 167.5 µg/L | 107.5 µg/L |
| 5 | Littlefield Lake | Audubon | — | 0.9 ft | 225 µg/L | 103.1 µg/L |
| 6 | Alice Wyth Lake | Black Hawk | — | 1.6 ft | 183 µg/L | 101.6 µg/L |
| 7 | Lake Hendricks | Howard | — | 1.5 ft | 108 µg/L | 99.1 µg/L |
| 8 | Casey Lake | Tama | — | 1.2 ft | 113 µg/L | 95.5 µg/L |
| 9 | Desoto Bend Lake | Harrison | — | 1 ft | 218 µg/L | 93.4 µg/L |
| 10 | Lake Orient | Adair | — | 1.3 ft | 674 µg/L | 92.2 µg/L |
| 11 | Avenue of the Saints Lake | Bremer | — | 1.2 ft | 174.5 µg/L | 89.7 µg/L |
| 12 | Indian Lake | Van Buren | — | 1.2 ft | 158 µg/L | 89.1 µg/L |
| 13 | Union Grove Lake | Tama | — | 1.6 ft | 143.5 µg/L | 88.5 µg/L |
| 14 | Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake | Wapello | — | 0.9 ft | 261 µg/L | 86.9 µg/L |
| 15 | East Lake Osceola | Clarke | — | 1.2 ft | 268.3 µg/L | 81.6 µg/L |
| 16 | Badger Creek Max Depth Lake | Madison | — | 1.6 ft | 149 µg/L | 77.7 µg/L |
| 17 | Lake Manawa | Pottawattamie | — | 1 ft | 110.5 µg/L | 77 µg/L |
| 18 | Little Wall Lake | Hamilton | — | 0.7 ft | 132 µg/L | 76.6 µg/L |
| 19 | Swan Lake Max Depth | Carroll | — | 1.4 ft | 433 µg/L | 74 µg/L |
| 20 | Williamson Pond Max Depth | Lucas | — | 1.6 ft | 236 µg/L | 73.9 µg/L |
| 21 | Prairie Rose Lake | Shelby | — | 1.6 ft | 159 µg/L | 73.6 µg/L |
| 22 | Lower Pine Lake | Hardin | — | 1.3 ft | 187 µg/L | 73.5 µg/L |
| 23 | Sands Timber Lake | Taylor | — | 1.8 ft | 98 µg/L | 70.1 µg/L |
| 24 | Little River Lake | Decatur | — | 2.3 ft | 85 µg/L | 70 µg/L |
| 25 | Mckinley Lake | Union | — | 1 ft | 150 µg/L | 69.3 µg/L |
| 26 | White Oak Lake | Mahaska | — | 1.4 ft | 125.5 µg/L | 68.7 µg/L |
| 27 | South Prairie Lake | Black Hawk | — | 1.6 ft | 104.5 µg/L | 66.9 µg/L |
| 28 | Upper Pine Lake | Hardin | — | 1.3 ft | 112 µg/L | 66.7 µg/L |
| 29 | Okamanpeedan Lake | Emmet | — | 1 ft | 155 µg/L | 63.2 µg/L |
| 30 | Cedar Lake | Madison | — | 1.6 ft | 98 µg/L | 62.7 µg/L |
| 31 | Beaver Lake | Dallas | — | 1.9 ft | 105 µg/L | 62.2 µg/L |
| 32 | Green Valley Lake | Union | — | 1.5 ft | 103 µg/L | 61.7 µg/L |
| 33 | Browns Lake | Woodbury | — | 0.7 ft | 217 µg/L | 61.6 µg/L |
| 34 | Lake Darling Max Depth | Washington | — | 1.6 ft | 226 µg/L | 60.5 µg/L |
| 35 | Briggs Woods Lake | Hamilton | — | 1.5 ft | 87 µg/L | 59.1 µg/L |
| 36 | Lake Miami Max Depth | Monroe | — | 1.3 ft | 132.5 µg/L | 58.6 µg/L |
| 37 | Lake of Three Fires Max Depth | Taylor | — | 2 ft | 89 µg/L | 58.6 µg/L |
| 38 | Blue Heron Lake | Polk | — | 2.2 ft | 78.5 µg/L | 57.9 µg/L |
| 39 | Silver Lake | Palo Alto | — | 1.2 ft | 209 µg/L | 53.9 µg/L |
| 40 | Greenfield Lake | Adair | — | 2.1 ft | 113 µg/L | 53.8 µg/L |
| 41 | Lake Iowa | Iowa | — | 1.9 ft | 80 µg/L | 53.8 µg/L |
| 42 | Arrowhead Lake | Pottawattamie | — | 1.8 ft | 136 µg/L | 53.6 µg/L |
| 43 | Five Island Lake | Palo Alto | — | 1.6 ft | 82 µg/L | 53.3 µg/L |
| 44 | Meadow Lake | Adair | — | 1.7 ft | 99 µg/L | 53.1 µg/L |
| 45 | Arbor Lake Max Depth | Poweshiek | — | 1.3 ft | 107 µg/L | 52.4 µg/L |
| 46 | Volga Lake | Fayette | — | 2.1 ft | 74 µg/L | 52.2 µg/L |
| 47 | Crawford Creek Lake | Ida | — | 1.6 ft | 97 µg/L | 50.4 µg/L |
| 48 | Crystal Lake Max Depth | Hancock | — | 1.6 ft | 99 µg/L | 50.3 µg/L |
| 49 | Ingham Lake | Emmet | — | 1.4 ft | 156.5 µg/L | 49.7 µg/L |
| 50 | Wilson Lake | Taylor | — | 1.6 ft | 96.5 µg/L | 48.3 µg/L |
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