Lake Anita is a 171-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cass County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F 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 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Lake Anita ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lake Anita water quality
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Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Lake Anita rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 2.7% of 113 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: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2.2 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 42.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 42.2 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 171 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Anita
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Anita in Cass 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Anita
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Fishing Lake Anita
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.113 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5.45 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Lake Anita averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in May (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 104 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Anita water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Lake Anita, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 30 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Cass County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Anita holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CMormon Trail LakeAdair County · 14.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DCold Springs LakeCass County · 18.5 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DNodaway LakeAdair County · 17.5 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Explore Lake Anita 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)
Lake Anita is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Anita Dam (completed 1970), built primarily for recreation on the TR-TURKEY CREEK; earth-type dam, 53 ft tall and 1,125 ft long.
- Surface area
- 171 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,400 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01336 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Anita 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 05-NSH-1435 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Lake Anita under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Anita City Of StpAnita · 1 mi away · NPDES IA0024520Recent 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)
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: 2024-09-30
Monitoring stations: 1