Missouri vs Iowa, Lake Water Quality Comparison
A data-driven comparison of lake water quality between Missouri and Iowa, built from EPA Water Quality Portal monitoring data.
| Missouri | Iowa | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Lakes | 278 | 209 |
| Average Score | 1.81 | 0.85 |
| Oligotrophic (Cleanest) | 17 | 0 |
| Eutrophic (High Nutrient) | 99 | 54 |
| Lakes with Invasives | 13 | 3 |
| Improving Trend | 89 | 95 |
| Declining Trend | 92 | 82 |
Analysis
Missouri has 278 lakes with nutrient and algae readings, against 209 in Iowa. On average water quality, Missouri comes out ahead.Missouri counts 17 oligotrophic lakes, the clearest trophic class, against 0 in Iowa.
Long-term monitoring shows 89 improving and 92 declining lakes in Missouri, versus 95 improving and 82 declining in Iowa. Dataset coverage varies by state: Missouri has maximum-depth data for 0 lakes and documented fish species on 0, compared with 0 and 0 for Iowa. Where a figure is zero, that state dataset has not yet been ingested — grades there rest on EPA clarity and nutrient measurements alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Missouri or Iowa have cleaner lakes?
Missouri lakes average a composite water-quality score of 1.81; Iowa lakes average 0.85. Missouri has the better average water quality. Grades are computed from EPA Water Quality Portal clarity and nutrient measurements.
Which state has more measured lakes?
Missouri has 278 measured lakes while Iowa has 209. Counts reflect lakes with enough EPA Water Quality Portal monitoring data to reae, not the total number of lakes in each state.