Lake Macbride is a 950-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Johnson County, Iowa. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 10 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Johnson County, Lake Macbride ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-08-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Lake Macbride frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 18.9% of 132 samples across 7 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Iowa’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2.9 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 28.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.9 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28.5 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 950 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Macbride
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Macbride in Johnson 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Macbride
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Fishing Lake Macbride
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.035 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.85 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Lake Macbride averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Oct (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 134 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Macbride water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Lake Macbride, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 45 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Johnson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Macbride holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CKent Park LakeJohnson County · 9.5 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- DPleasant Creek LakeLinn County · 25.9 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Johnson County
Explore Lake Macbride across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Macbride is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Macbride Dam (completed 1930), built primarily for recreation on the MILL CREEK; earth-type dam, 56 ft tall and 900 ft long.
- Surface area
- 950 ac
- Normal storage
- 15,750 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 28,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 27.1 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01352 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Macbride is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 02-IOW-630 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.22 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
14 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Macbride under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 11 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- North Liberty City Of StpNorth Liberty · 4.8 mi away · NPDES IA0032905Major
- Cottage Reserve CorporationSolon · 0.3 mi away · NPDES IA0068331Recent violation
- Dnr Lake Macbride State Park-CampgroundSolon · 0.5 mi away · NPDES IA0072079Recent violation
- Scales Pointe Campground & MarinaNorth Liberty · 1.2 mi away · NPDES IA0052791Recent violation
- Io-Dis-E-Ca CampSolon · 2.2 mi away · NPDES IA0067083Recent violation
- Sugar Bottom Recreation AreaSolon · 2.4 mi away · NPDES IA0083674Recent violation
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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: 2024-08-27
Monitoring stations: 1