Beeds Lake is a 130-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Franklin County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-10-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Beeds Lake routinely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 29.5% of 105 samples across 7 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Iowa’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 58.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 58.1 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 130 acres |
Where to stay near Beeds Lake
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Fishing Beeds Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.014 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.23 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Beeds Lake averages about 76°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 117 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Beeds Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Beeds Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 22 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Franklin County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Beeds Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ABlue Pit LakeCerro Gordo County · 25.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- DLake CorneliaWright County · 23 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DBlack Pit LakeCerro Gordo County · 25.6 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DClear LakeCerro Gordo County · 26.2 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Franklin County
Explore Beeds Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Beeds Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Beeds Lake Dam (completed 1937), built primarily for recreation on the SPRING CREEK; earth-type dam, 44 ft tall and 1,677 ft long.
- Surface area
- 130 ac
- Normal storage
- 870 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,850 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 31.8 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01344 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Beeds 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-WFC-818 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Beeds 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.
- Hampton City Of StpHampton · 2.8 mi away · NPDES IA0036471MajorRecent violation
- Dnr Beeds Lake State ParkHampton · 0.3 mi away · NPDES IA0067385Recent violation
- Terrace Hill Sanitary District StpHampton · 2.4 mi away · NPDES IA0062472Recent violation
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-10-28
Monitoring stations: 1