Fogle Lake is a 42-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ringgold County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. 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 1 other monitored lakes in Ringgold County, Fogle Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-10-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Fogle 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 2.3 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 31.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 31.3 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Fogle Lake
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Fishing Fogle Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.06 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.06 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Fogle Lake averages about 79°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in Sep (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Fogle Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Fogle Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 24 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Ringgold County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Fogle Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DLoch Ayr LakeRinggold County · 7.6 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DThree Mile LakeUnion County · 19.2 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Ringgold County
Explore Fogle 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)
Fogle Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Fogle Lake Dam (completed 1996), built primarily for recreation on the TR- GRAND RIVER; earth-type dam, 36 ft tall and 810 ft long.
- Surface area
- 41.5 ac
- Normal storage
- 378 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 679 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.85 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA03152 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Fogle Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Diagonal City Of StpDiagonal · 0.6 mi away · NPDES IA0063401Recent violation
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2024-10-01
Monitoring stations: 1