Lake Meyer is a 38-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Winneshiek County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-10-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lake Meyer 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 3.1 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 35.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 35.6 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
Where to stay near Lake Meyer
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Fishing Lake Meyer
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.567 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.72 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Water Temperature
Lake Meyer averages about 74°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 79°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 25 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Meyer water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Lake Meyer, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 22 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Winneshiek County
Nearby Lakes in Winneshiek County
Explore Lake Meyer 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 Meyer is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Meyer Dam (completed 1966), built primarily for recreation on the TR-TURKEY RIVER; earth-type dam, 46 ft tall and 530 ft long.
- Surface area
- 37.6 ac
- Normal storage
- 564 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 754 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.11 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Winneshiek County Conservation Board
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01077 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Meyer under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Fort Atkinson City Of StpFort Atkinson · 2.1 mi away · NPDES IA0072176Recent violation
- Spillville City Of StpSpillville · 2.4 mi away · NPDES IA0042749Recent violation
- Calmar City Of StpCalmar · 2.7 mi away · NPDES IA0023515Recent violation
- Festina-Winneshiek County-StpFestina · 4.6 mi away · NPDES IA0075442
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)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-10-21
Monitoring stations: 1