Lake Macbride
Lake Macbride in Johnson County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.5 µg/L. Surface area: 950 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 81°F
- Area
- 950 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lake Macbride →
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Lake Macbride, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 45 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
Lake Macbride is a 950-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Johnson County, Iowa. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 10 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Johnson County, Lake Macbride ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-08-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A · advisory
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Based on E. coli testing, Lake Macbride never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 19 samples across 3 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Iowa’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.9 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 28.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 59 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Macbride
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Macbride in Johnson County, Iowa — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Lake Macbride are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Macbride
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Macbride → · more Iowa lake trips
Water Temperature
Lake Macbride typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 80°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Oct (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 134 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Macbride water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 950 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Macbride, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Jolly RogersPublic
- Sugar BottomPublic
- Mehaffey BridgePublic
- Sandy BeachPublic
- Lake Macbride State ParkPublic
Showing 5 of 10 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
Named access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, snapped within 5 km. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Lake Macbride
- Lake Macbride State Park - North Campground0.5 km
Nearest public campgrounds from USGS The National Map, snapped within 5 km. Empty on lakes with no join — this is not a “camping available” claim. Cabins and hotels stay on Stay22; campsite booking is the official link when the source provides one. More camping lakes
Fishing Lake Macbride
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.035 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +92.6 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.85 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Macbride is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Macbride Dam (completed 1930), built primarily for recreation on the MILL CREEK; earth-type dam, 56 ft tall and 900 ft long.
- Surface area
- 950 ac
- Normal storage
- 15,750 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 28,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 27.1 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01352 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Macbride is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 02-IOW-630 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.22 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
14 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Macbride under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 11 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- North Liberty City Of StpNorth Liberty · 4.8 mi away · NPDES IA0032905Major
- Cottage Reserve CorporationSolon · 0.3 mi away · NPDES IA0068331Recent violation
- Dnr Lake Macbride State Park-CampgroundSolon · 0.5 mi away · NPDES IA0072079Recent violation
- Scales Pointe Campground & MarinaNorth Liberty · 1.2 mi away · NPDES IA0052791Recent violation
- Io-Dis-E-Ca CampSolon · 2.2 mi away · NPDES IA0067083Recent violation
- Sugar Bottom Recreation AreaSolon · 2.4 mi away · NPDES IA0083674Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Johnson County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Macbride holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Johnson County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Macbride
Where is Lake Macbride?
- Lake Macbride is a lake in Johnson County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Macbride?
- Lake Macbride in Johnson County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.5 µg/L. Surface area: 950 acres.
Is Lake Macbride safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Lake Macbride never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 19 samples across 3 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Lake Macbride has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Iowa's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Macbride?
- Lake Macbride typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August, from 134 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Macbride?
- Lake Macbride has 10 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Jolly Rogers, Sugar Bottom, Mehaffey Bridge, Sandy Beach, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Lake Macbride?
- Lake Macbride has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Lake Macbride State Park - North Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Lake Macbride across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Iowa's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade D Lakes in Iowa
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Where this data comes from
63 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Iowa DNR Surface Water Monitoring Data
21IOWA_WQX63 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Unknown
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- In-Vitro Determination of Chlorophyll
- ISU modification of APHA 2130-B
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, snapped within 5 km