Desoto Bend Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Harrison County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Harrison County, Desoto Bend Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Desoto Bend Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 93.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 76.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 93.4 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 76 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Desoto Bend Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Desoto Bend Lake in Harrison 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Desoto Bend Lake
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 trip to Desoto Bend Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Desoto Bend Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Iowa’s top lakes →
Fishing Desoto Bend Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.034 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.86 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Water Temperature
Desoto Bend Lake averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jun (about 80°F) and coldest in May (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Desoto Bend Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Harrison County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Desoto Bend Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Harrison County
Explore Desoto Bend Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Desoto Bend Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 06-WEM-1716 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-09-30
Monitoring stations: 1