East Lake Osceola is a 13-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Clarke 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 Clarke County, East Lake Osceola ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch East Lake Osceola water quality
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1.2 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 81.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 74.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 81.6 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 74 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
Where to stay near East Lake Osceola
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Fishing East Lake Osceola
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.084 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -15.89 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
East Lake Osceola averages about 79°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 32 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full East Lake Osceola water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of East Lake Osceola, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 12 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Clarke County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
East Lake Osceola holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DWest Lake OsceolaClarke County · 3.3 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DThayer LakeUnion County · 16.9 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DHooper Pond LakeWarren County · 18.7 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DThree Mile LakeUnion County · 24.7 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Clarke County
Explore East Lake Osceola across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
East Lake Osceola is a man-made reservoir impounded by the East Lake Dam (completed 1915), built primarily for water supply on the TR-WHITE BREAST CREEK; earth-type dam, 41 ft tall and 795 ft long.
- Surface area
- 13 ac
- Normal storage
- 98 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 257 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Clarke County Conservation Board
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01337 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.08 km)
EPA Impairment Status
East Lake Osceola is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 04-LDM-1065 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of East Lake Osceola under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Osceola City Of StpOsceola · 1.2 mi away · NPDES IA0041815MajorRecent violation
- Lift, L.L.C.Osceola · 4.5 mi away · NPDES IA0068403
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: 2024-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1