Elm Lake is a lake in Wright County, Iowa. Its water-quality measurements are published by Iowa DNR and shown on this page as reported.

Are there boat ramps on Elm Lake?

Elm Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Elm Lake Wildlife Area. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Elm Lake?

Elm Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Iowa's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Elm Lake

Wright County, Iowa336 acresView map Directions

No nutrient or algae sampling on record from Iowa DNR for this lake.

Area

336 acres

Surface area

Shoreline

3.9 mi

Measured length

Impaired · Algal growth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Elm Lake in Wright County, Iowa has water-quality measurements published by Iowa DNR, shown here as reported. Surface area: 336 acres.

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Elm Lake is a 336-acre lake in Wright 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Elm Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Boat launch1 documented ramp

Swimming conditions

No reading

Not rated

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Elm Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Elm Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

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Water quality measurements for Elm Lake

These are the measurements Iowa DNR publishes for Elm Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

No clarity data. TSI undefined.

Ask about Elm Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Lake Details

Surface area

336 acres

Shoreline

3.9 mi

Public access

Yes

Listed by Iowa DNR

No bathymetric survey has been published for Elm Lake, so its depth is not documented here.

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Elm Lake Wildlife AreaPublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Elm Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Elm Lake in Wright 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 Elm Lake

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Fishing Elm Lake

→ Elm Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

EPA Impairment Status

Elm Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Algal growthTurbidity

Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 02-IOW-657 · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Wright County

Lake Cornelia2.5 ft clear · Eutrophic1.9 miView →Morse Lake5.2 miView →Big Wall Lake10.2 miView →East Twin Lake12 miView →West Twin Lake12.2 miView →Eldred Sherwood Lake3 ft clear · Hypereutrophic13.5 miView →

Frequently asked questions about Elm Lake

Where is Elm Lake?: Elm Lake is a lake in Wright County, Iowa. Its water-quality measurements are published by Iowa DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Elm Lake?: Elm Lake in Wright County, Iowa has water-quality measurements published by Iowa DNR, shown here as reported. Surface area: 336 acres.
Is Elm Lake safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Elm Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Elm Lake?: Elm Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Elm Lake Wildlife Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Elm Lake?: Elm Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Iowa's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.