Dog Creek Lake
O'Brien County, Iowa29 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
Dog Creek Lake in O'Brien County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25 µg/L. Surface area: 29.3 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.4 ft
- Typical in September
- 71°F
- Area
- 29 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Dog Creek Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dog Creek Lake in O'Brien 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 Dog Creek Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Dog Creek Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Dog Creek Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Dog Creek Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 20 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
Dog Creek Lake is a 29-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in O'Brien County, Iowa. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in O'Brien County, Dog Creek Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-09. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 3.4 ft. Phosphorus 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 25 µg/L. TSI 61. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 58 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 25 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Dog Creek Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Jun (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dog Creek Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Dog Creek Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Dog Creek Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.03 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +6.7 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +3.18 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Dog Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Dog Creek Dam (completed 1967), built primarily for other on the DOG CREEK; earth-type dam, 43 ft tall and 1,150 ft long.
- Surface area
- 29.3 ac
- Normal storage
- 293 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 918 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4.86 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- OBrien County Conservation Board
All listed purposes: Other;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA00833 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Dog Creek Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Sutherland City Of StpSutherland · 2.6 mi away · NPDES IA0036129Recent violation
- Ocrws South Water Treatment PlantSutherland · 1 mi away · NPDES IA0052702
- Deer Run RanchSutherland · 2.5 mi away · NPDES IA0079618
- Rtcp Farm Partnership (Spring Valley Ranch)Sutherland · 3.1 mi away · NPDES IA0079065
- Calumet City Of StpCalumet · 4.6 mi away · NPDES IA0062049
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 O'Brien County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Dog Creek Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in O'Brien County
Frequently asked questions about Dog Creek Lake
Where is Dog Creek Lake?
- Dog Creek Lake is a lake in O'Brien County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Dog Creek Lake?
- Dog Creek Lake in O'Brien County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25 µg/L. Surface area: 29.3 acres.
Is Dog Creek 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 Dog Creek Lake?
- Dog Creek Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September, from 26 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Dog Creek Lake across LakeQuality
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
Where this data comes from
53 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_WQX53 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)