Brushy Creek Lake is a 690-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Webster 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 Webster County, Brushy Creek Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-10-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Brushy Creek Lake occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 9.6% of 135 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 2.8 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 44.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 44.5 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 690 acres |
Where to stay near Brushy Creek Lake
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Fishing Brushy Creek Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.175 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +8.13 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Brushy Creek Lake averages about 76°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 107 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Brushy Creek Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Brushy Creek Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 72 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Webster County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Brushy Creek Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Webster County
Explore Brushy Creek 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)
Brushy Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Brushy Creek Dam (completed 1998), built primarily for recreation on the BRUSHY CREEK; earth-type dam, 100 ft tall and 1,950 ft long.
- Surface area
- 690 ac
- Normal storage
- 19,660 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 31,645 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 88.06 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA03116 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Brushy Creek 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 04-UDM-1276 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Brushy Creek Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Lehigh City Of StpLehigh · 4.2 mi away · NPDES IA0021296Recent violation
- Dnr Brushy Creek St.Park-N.Equestrian CampgroundLehigh · 0.8 mi away · NPDES IA0074543
- Dnr Brushy Creek St. Park - S.Equestrian CampgroundLehigh · 1.8 mi away · NPDES IA0076945
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)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-10-22
Monitoring stations: 1