Arbor Lake Max Depth is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Poweshiek County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Poweshiek County, Arbor Lake Max Depth ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-08-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1.3 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 53.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 53.2 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Arbor Lake Max Depth
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Arbor Lake Max Depth in Poweshiek 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.
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Fishing Arbor Lake Max Depth
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.005 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5.45 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Water Temperature
Arbor Lake Max Depth averages about 77°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Sep (about 67°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Arbor Lake Max Depth water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Arbor Lake Max Depth, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 18 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Poweshiek County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Arbor Lake Max Depth holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Poweshiek County
Explore Arbor Lake Max Depth across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Arbor Lake Max Depth is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 03-NSK-864 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.22 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-08-25
Monitoring stations: 1