Ellis Lake is a 80-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lucas County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Lucas County, Ellis Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2022-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Ellis Lake 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 2 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 35.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 35.6 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 80 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Ellis Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ellis Lake in Lucas 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.
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Fishing Ellis Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.128 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -4.14 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Ellis Lake averages about 84°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in May (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2018–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ellis Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Ellis Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 20 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Lucas County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Ellis Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DBob White LakeWayne County · 21.6 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DRathbun LakeAppanoose County · 23.1 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Lucas County
Explore Ellis 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)
Ellis Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Ellis Dam (completed 1993), built primarily for water supply on the TR-LITTLE WHITEBREAST CREEK; earth-type dam, 38 ft tall and 900 ft long.
- Surface area
- 80 ac
- Normal storage
- 803 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,463 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Chariton Municipal Utilities
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01358 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Ellis 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 04-LDM-1071 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.06 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Ellis Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Chariton Municipal Water WorksChariton · 0.2 mi away · NPDES IA0081825
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)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-09-06
Monitoring stations: 1