Lake Belva Deer is a 247-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Keokuk County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is improving 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: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 |
Where to stay near Lake Belva Deer
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Fishing Lake Belva Deer
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.015 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.41 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Lake Belva Deer averages about 77°F at the surface in summer, 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 →
Location & Depth Map
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.
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
Explore Lake Belva Deer across LakeGrade
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Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
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.
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
Most recent sample: 2024-08-26
Monitoring stations: 1