Bob White Lake
Wayne County, Iowa104 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↑ up from D at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Turbidity
- #1 of 3 in the county
- Public access
Bob White Lake in Wayne County, Iowa has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 0.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 264 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.1 µg/L. Surface area: 104 acres.
- Clarity
- 0.6 ft
- Typical in September
- 77°F
- Area
- 104 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 264 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 10.1 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Bob White Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Bob White Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 8 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
Bob White Lake is a 104-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wayne County, Iowa. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Wayne County, Bob White Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Bob White Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Very murky, less than 0.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 264 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10.1 µg/L. TSI 74. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 264 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 74 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Bob White Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 79°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 41 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bob White Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 104 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Bob White Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Bob White Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.012 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -1.3 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -11.45 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Bob White Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Bobwhite Lake Dam (completed 1900), built primarily for recreation on the SOUTH FORK CHARITON RIVER; earth-type dam, 27 ft tall and 630 ft long.
- Surface area
- 104 ac
- Normal storage
- 800 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,800 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 5.58 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01384 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Bob White Lake 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 05-CHA-1338 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Bob White Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Allerton City Of Stp (North)Allerton · 1.9 mi away · NPDES IA0054054Recent violation
- Blendhouse Allerton LlcAllerton · 2 mi away · NPDES IA0077895Recent violation
- Allerton City Of Stp (South)Allerton · 2.8 mi away · NPDES IA0054046Recent 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Wayne County
Nearby Lakes in Wayne County
Frequently asked questions about Bob White Lake
Where is Bob White Lake?
- Bob White Lake is a lake in Wayne County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Bob White Lake?
- Bob White Lake in Wayne County, Iowa has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 0.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 264 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.1 µg/L. Surface area: 104 acres.
Is Bob White Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Bob White Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Bob White Lake?
- Bob White Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in September, from 41 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Bob White Lake across LakeQuality
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
Where this data comes from
49 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Iowa DNR Surface Water Monitoring Data
21IOWA_WQX49 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- Unknown
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 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)