Lake Icaria is a 700-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Adams County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 5 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Adams County, Lake Icaria 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 Icaria water quality
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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 2.7 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 30.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.7 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 30.8 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 700 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Icaria
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Icaria in Adams 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.
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Fishing Lake Icaria
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.041 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -8.25 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Lake Icaria averages about 79°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Sep (about 70°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 Icaria water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Lake Icaria, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 28 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Adams County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Icaria holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CMormon Trail LakeAdair County · 14.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DBinder LakeAdams County · 3.8 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Adams County
Explore Lake Icaria 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 Icaria is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Icaria Dam (Site M-1-A Walters Cr) (completed 1974), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the KEMP CREEK; earth-type dam, 56 ft tall and 1,310 ft long.
- Surface area
- 700 ac
- Normal storage
- 8,650 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 25,310 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 28 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Adams County SWCD
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA00077 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.13 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Icaria is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 05-NOD-1398 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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