George Wyth Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Black Hawk 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 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Black Hawk County, George Wyth Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-10-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch George Wyth 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 1.9 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 50 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.9 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 50 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near George Wyth Lake
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Fishing George Wyth Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.079 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.36 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
George Wyth Lake averages about 78°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Sep (about 73°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 29 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full George Wyth Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of George Wyth Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 18 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 7 lakes in Black Hawk County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
George Wyth Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DMitchell LakeBlack Hawk County · 5.7 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DFisher LakeBlack Hawk County · 0.8 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DGreen Belt LakeBlack Hawk County · 3.8 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Black Hawk County
Explore George Wyth Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
George Wyth Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 02-CED-465 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of George Wyth Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Allen Memorial HospitalWaterloo · 2.9 mi away · NPDES IA0072419Recent violation
- Advanced Heat Treat Corporation - MidportWaterloo · 0.9 mi away · NPDES IA0075451
- Advanced Heat Treat Corporation - WaterlooWaterloo · 2 mi away · NPDES IA0078484
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: 2024-10-23
Monitoring stations: 1