Elk Lake
Elk Lake in Clay County, Iowa is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Surface area: 256 acres.
- Area
- 256 acres
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Elk Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Elk Lake, no water-quality sampling on record for this lake.
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by Iowa DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Elk Lake is a 256-acre lake in Clay County, Iowa. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled recent years. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Elk Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedElevated nutrients
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Elk Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Trophic State Index: undefined.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) |
Where to stay near Elk Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Elk Lake in Clay 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 Elk Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 256 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Elk Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Elk Lake Wetland ComplexPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Elk Lake
Nearby Lakes in Clay County
Frequently asked questions about Elk Lake
Where is Elk Lake?
- Elk Lake is a lake in Clay County, Iowa. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no water-quality sampling on record for this lake.
What is the water quality grade for Elk Lake?
- Elk Lake in Clay County, Iowa is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Surface area: 256 acres.
Is Elk Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Elk Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Elk Lake?
- Elk Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Elk Lake Wetland Complex. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Elk Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
Measurements for Elk Lake come from the EPA Water Quality Portal. Per-sample source details are not recorded for this lake.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory