Lake Belva Deer
Keokuk County, Iowa247 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
Lake Belva Deer in Keokuk County, Iowa has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 55.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 40.3 µg/L. Surface area: 247 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Typical in September
- 68°F
- Area
- 247 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 55.3 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 40.3 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Belva Deer
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Belva Deer in Keokuk 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Lake Belva Deer are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Belva Deer
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Iowa’s top lakes →
Watch Lake Belva Deer’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Free interactive depth-contour map of Lake Belva Deer, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 40 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
Lake Belva Deer is a 247-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Keokuk County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. 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, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-08-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 55.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 40.3 µg/L. TSI 65. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 55.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 40.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Lake Belva Deer typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Sep (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 29 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Belva Deer water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 247 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Belva Deer, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Belva Deer
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.015 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +6.85 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.41 µg/L/yr | 5 |
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
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Belva Deer under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Belva Deer ParkSigourney · 0.7 mi away · NPDES IA0077224Recent violation
- Harper, City Of StpHarper · 4.4 mi away · NPDES IA0079359
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Keokuk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Belva Deer holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Keokuk County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Belva Deer
Where is Lake Belva Deer?
- Lake Belva Deer is a lake in Keokuk County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Belva Deer?
- Lake Belva Deer in Keokuk County, Iowa has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 55.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 40.3 µg/L. Surface area: 247 acres.
Is Lake Belva Deer safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Belva Deer?
- Lake Belva Deer typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 29 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake Belva Deer across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Iowa's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Iowa's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Iowa
Where this data comes from
63 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Iowa DNR Surface Water Monitoring Data
21IOWA_WQX63 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Unknown
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- In-Vitro Determination of Chlorophyll
- ISU modification of APHA 2130-B
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)