Gustafson Lake is a 10-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Buena Vista County, Iowa. Water quality is graded D 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 2 other monitored lakes in Buena Vista County, Gustafson Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2022-09-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 27 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 27 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Gustafson Lake
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Fishing Gustafson Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.05 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.45 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Gustafson Lake averages about 76°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Jun (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 Gustafson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Buena Vista County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Gustafson Lake holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CNewell Pit LakeBuena Vista County · 19 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- DDog Creek LakeO'Brien County · 16.5 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DStorm Lake Max DepthBuena Vista County · 18 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DStolley Pit LakeClay County · 19.1 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DLost Island LakePalo Alto County · 24 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Buena Vista County
Explore Gustafson Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Gustafson Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Gustafson Lake Dam (completed 1974), built primarily for recreation on the TR-LITTLE SIOUX RIVER; earth-type dam, 49 ft tall and 1,150 ft long.
- Surface area
- 9.7 ac
- Normal storage
- 90 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 176 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.36 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Transportation
All listed purposes: Recreation;Other.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA02159 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Gustafson 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 06-LSR-1625 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Gustafson Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Sioux Rapids City Of StpSioux Rapids · 1.3 mi away · NPDES IA0042951Recent violation
- Rembrandt Enterprises, Inc.Rembrandt · 3.9 mi away · NPDES IA0076554Recent violation
- Rembrandt City Of StpRembrandt · 4.2 mi away · NPDES IA0033219Recent 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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: 2022-09-12
Monitoring stations: 1