Dickinson County Lake Quality
Iowa, 8 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Dickinson County has 8 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. On average, Dickinson County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.
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 West Okoboji Lake (A); the most-stressed is Silver Lake Max Depth (F).
Quick Answers for Dickinson County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for West Okoboji Lake — or check the official Iowa fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Dickinson County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Okoboji Lake | A | 15.7 ft | - |
| 2 | Upper Gar Lake | C | 3.9 ft | - |
| 3 | Big Spirit Lake | C | 5.5 ft | - |
| 4 | Lake Minnewashta | D | 2.8 ft | - |
| 5 | East Okoboji Lake | D | 3.9 ft | - |
| 6 | Lower Gar Lake | D | 2.6 ft | - |
| 7 | Silver Lake Max Depth | F | 2.7 ft | - |
| 8 | Center Lake | F | 2.3 ft | - |
Other Counties in Iowa
See how Dickinson 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 Dickinson County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.