Lake Anita
Cass County, WisconsinEutrophic
Lake Anita is a 171-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cass County, IA. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Lake Anita ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-09-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
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 |
Location
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
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
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
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-09-30
Monitoring stations: 1