Clay County Lake Quality
Iowa, 1 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Only 1 lakes in Clay County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. On average, Clay County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Stolley Pit Lake (D) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Clay County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Stolley Pit Lake — or check the official Iowa fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Clay County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stolley Pit Lake | D | 2.7 ft | - |
Other Counties in Iowa
See how Clay County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 15 states.
Where to stay near Clay County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.