Alice Wyth Lake
Black Hawk County, IowaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Pathogens (E. coli, fecal)
- #7 of 7 in the county
- Public access
Alice Wyth Lake in Black Hawk County, Iowa has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 183 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 101.6 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1.6 ft
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 183 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 101.6 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Alice Wyth Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Alice Wyth Lake in Black Hawk County, Iowa — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Alice Wyth Lake are listed below.
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Watch Alice Wyth Lake’s letter
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Alice Wyth Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Black Hawk County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Black Hawk County, Alice Wyth Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Alice Wyth Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Alice Wyth Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal), turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 183 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 101.6 µg/L. TSI 75. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 183 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 101.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 75 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Recreation & Access
- GWSP Portage Put In 2Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Alice Wyth Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | 0 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +20.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Alice Wyth Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 02-CED-465 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.09 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
6 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Alice Wyth Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Cedar Falls City Of StpCedar Falls · 1 mi away · NPDES IA0036633MajorRecent violation
- Streeter Generating StationCedar Falls · 0.9 mi away · NPDES IA0002534Recent violation
- Nazareth Lutheran ChurchCedar Falls · 1.8 mi away · NPDES IA0080047Recent violation
- Viking Pump, Inc. - Main PlantCedar Falls · 1.1 mi away · NPDES IA0060275
- Viking Pump, Inc. - Alloys FoundryCedar Falls · 1.1 mi away · NPDES IA0069205
- Cedar Falls, City Of MS4Cedar Falls · 1.4 mi away · NPDES IA0078263
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 7 lakes in Black Hawk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Alice Wyth Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Black Hawk County
Frequently asked questions about Alice Wyth Lake
Where is Alice Wyth Lake?
- Alice Wyth Lake is a lake in Black Hawk County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Alice Wyth Lake?
- Alice Wyth Lake in Black Hawk County, Iowa has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 183 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 101.6 µg/L.
Is Alice Wyth Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Alice Wyth Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pathogens (E. coli, fecal), turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Alice Wyth Lake?
- Alice Wyth Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include GWSP Portage Put In 2. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Alice Wyth Lake across LakeQuality
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Iowa
Where this data comes from
31 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Iowa DNR Surface Water Monitoring Data
21IOWA_WQX31 samples · 2023–2024
Analytical methods
- Unknown
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- In-Vitro Determination of Chlorophyll
- ISU modification of APHA 2130-B
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory