Shelby County Lake Quality
Iowa, 2 lakes, measured by Iowa DNR
Shelby County has 2 monitored 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. Every one of those lakes carries recent nutrient and algae readings, so the county-level summary covers the full set rather than a monitored subset. Phosphorus and algae readings vary widely across Shelby County; the per-lake pages below carry the numbers.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the readings sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest measured lake is Manteno Lake.
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Quick Answers for Shelby County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Manteno Lake — or check the official Iowa fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Shelby County
2 lakes2 lakes ranked on readings
| # | Lake | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manteno LakeShelby | 2.7 ft | 138.5 µg/L | 28.3 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 2 | Prairie Rose LakeShelby | 1.6 ft | 159 µg/L | 73.6 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
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Source: the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. See data sources.