
Adams County Lake Quality
Iowa, 2 lakes, average grade D (Nutrient-rich)
Adams County holds 2 monitored lakes. With a sample that small the county-level summary describes those specific waters, not necessarily every water body in the county. Every one of those lakes carries an A–F grade, so the county-level summary covers the full set rather than a monitored subset. The county-wide average grade is D — water quality issues are persistent across most of the monitored basins. 1 lakes fall into the F bracket outright.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Binder Lake (D); the most-stressed is Lake Icaria (F).
Where to stay near Adams County
Top-rated places to stay near Adams County
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 to Adams County?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Adams County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Quick Answers for Adams County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Binder Lake — or check the official Iowa fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Adams County
2 lakes2 graded lakes
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DBinder LakeAdams | D | 3 ft | 77 µg/L | 24.5 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 2 | FLake IcariaAdams | F | 2.7 ft | 54 µg/L | 30.8 µg/L | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
Lake Match
Which lake suits how you actually use one?
Six questions — swimming, fishing, quiet, cabins, drive time — and a shortlist of graded lakes that fit, with the water quality behind each one.
Other Counties in Iowa
See how Adams County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.