Fisher Lake
Black Hawk County, IowaView mapDirections
Iowa DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Fisher Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Limited data
Fisher Lake in Black Hawk County, Iowa has water-quality measurements published by Iowa DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 169 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25.7 µg/L.
Fisher Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Black Hawk County, Iowa. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Black Hawk County, Fisher Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-11. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Fisher Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Fisher 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.
Water quality measurements for Fisher Lake
These are the measurements Iowa DNR publishes for Fisher Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 169 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 25.7 µg/L. TSI 68.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 169µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 25.7µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 68 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Fisher Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Fisher Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (68°F) to its warmest (81°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 60 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Fisher Lake water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- GWSP Portage Put In 1Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Fisher Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fisher Lake in Black Hawk 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Fisher Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Fisher Lake
Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Iowa’s top lakes →
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Fishing Fisher Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+12.05 µg/L/yr4 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+2.98 µg/L/yr5 years
Nearby Lakes in Black Hawk County
Frequently asked questions about Fisher Lake
Where is Fisher Lake?
- Fisher Lake is a lake in Black Hawk County, Iowa. Its water-quality measurements are published by Iowa DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Fisher Lake?
- Fisher Lake in Black Hawk County, Iowa has water-quality measurements published by Iowa DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 169 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25.7 µg/L.
Is Fisher Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Fisher Lake?
- Fisher Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 60 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Fisher Lake?
- Fisher Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include GWSP Portage Put In 1. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Fisher Lake?
- Fisher 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.
Explore Fisher Lake across LakeQuality
More lakes in Iowa
Other Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
Where this data comes from
29 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Iowa DNR Surface Water Monitoring Data
21IOWA_WQX29 samples · 2023–2024
Analytical methods
- Unknown
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- In-Vitro Determination of Chlorophyll
- ISU modification of APHA 2130-B
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory