Bob White Lake is a 104-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wayne County, Iowa. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. 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: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Bob White Lake frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 19.8% of 91 samples across 6 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: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 0.6 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 10.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.1 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 104 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Bob White Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bob White Lake in Wayne 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 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 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -11.45 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Bob White Lake averages about 79°F at the surface in summer, 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 →
Location & Depth Map
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Wayne County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Bob White Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Wayne County
Explore Bob White Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
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
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 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.
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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2024-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1