Binder Lake
Adams County, Iowa79 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
- 29 ft max depth
Binder Lake in Adams County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 77 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.5 µg/L. Surface area: 79.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in September
- 69°F
- Max depth
- ~29 ft est.
- Area
- 79 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 77 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 24.5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Binder Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Binder Lake in Adams 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 Binder Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Binder Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Iowa’s top lakes →
Watch Binder Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Free interactive depth-contour map of Binder Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 16 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
Binder Lake is a 79-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Adams County, Iowa with an estimated average depth of about 29 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Adams County, Binder Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2022-09-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 77 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 24.5 µg/L. TSI 63. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 77 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 24.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Binder Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in Sep (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2018–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Binder Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~29 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~13 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 79 acres |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Iowa has not published bathymetry for Binder Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Binder Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.2 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -14.1 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -31.6 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Binder Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Binder Lake Dam (completed 1942), built primarily for water supply on the TR-EAST NODAWAY; earth-type dam, 35 ft tall and 711 ft long.
- Surface area
- 79.4 ac
- Normal storage
- 990 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,100 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.34 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Corning Municipal Utilities
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01332 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Binder Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Corning City Of StpCorning · 2.2 mi away · NPDES IA0027375Recent violation
- Corning Municipal Utilities Water Treatment PlantCorning · 1.1 mi away · NPDES IA0076759
- Adams County Care Facility StpCorning · 1.7 mi away · NPDES IA0065722
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 #1 of 2 lakes in Adams County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Binder Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Adams County
Frequently asked questions about Binder Lake
Where is Binder Lake?
- Binder Lake is a lake in Adams County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Binder Lake?
- Binder Lake in Adams County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 77 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.5 µg/L. Surface area: 79.4 acres.
Is Binder Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Binder Lake?
- Binder Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Binder Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Binder Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 29 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 79.4 acres.
Explore Binder Lake across LakeQuality
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Iowa DNR Surface Water Monitoring Data
21IOWA_WQX36 samples · 2020–2022
Analytical methods
- Unknown
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)