Lake Belva Deer
Keokuk County, WisconsinEutrophic
Lake Belva Deer is a 247-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Keokuk County, IA. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Keokuk County, Lake Belva Deer ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-08-26. 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 2.1 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 40.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 40.3 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 247 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Keokuk County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Belva Deer holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Keokuk County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Belva Deer is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Belva Deer Dam (completed 2001), built primarily for recreation on the TR- GERMAN CREEK; earth-type dam, 55 ft tall and 2,070 ft long.
- Surface area
- 247 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,666 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 8,100 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 5.78 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Keokuk County Conservation Board
All listed purposes: Recreation;Other.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA03399 · Operator website
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-08-26
Monitoring stations: 1