Lacey Keosauqua Lake is a 23-acre mesotrophic lake in Van Buren County, Iowa. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity 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 Van Buren County, Lacey Keosauqua Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Lacey Keosauqua Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 3.7% of 108 samples across 7 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Iowa’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.1 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 4.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.1 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.7 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 23 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lacey Keosauqua Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lacey Keosauqua Lake in Van Buren 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.
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Fishing Lacey Keosauqua Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.254 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.16 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Lacey Keosauqua Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in May (about 73°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 103 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lacey Keosauqua Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Lacey Keosauqua 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 #1 of 3 lakes in Van Buren County
Nearby Lakes in Van Buren County
Explore Lacey Keosauqua Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Iowa
Mesotrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lacey Keosauqua Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lacey-Keosaqua Park Lake Dam (completed 1930), built primarily for recreation on the TR-DES MOINES; earth-type dam, 47 ft tall and 312 ft long.
- Surface area
- 23 ac
- Normal storage
- 207 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 455 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.18 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01380 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.04 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lacey Keosauqua Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Dnr Lacey Keosauqua State ParkKeosauqua · 1.2 mi away · NPDES IA0081361Recent violation
- Keosauqua City Of StpKeosauqua · 1.6 mi away · NPDES IA0023361Recent violation
- Center Village Care Facility-StpKeosauqua · 4.2 mi away · NPDES IA0076741Recent 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: 2024-09-16
Monitoring stations: 1