Lake Meyer
Winneshiek County, Iowa38 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↑ up from F at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 23 ft max depth
Lake Meyer in Winneshiek County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 49 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.5 µg/L. Surface area: 37.6 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.1 ft
- Typical in September
- 70°F
- Max depth
- ~23 ft est.
- Area
- 38 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 49 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 28.5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Meyer
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Meyer in Winneshiek 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 Meyer are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Meyer
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 Meyer’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
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.
Lake Meyer is a 38-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Winneshiek County, Iowa with an estimated average depth of about 23 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-10-21. 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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 49 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 28.5 µg/L. TSI 61. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 49 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Lake Meyer typically sits around 70°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 74°F. 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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~23 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~13 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Iowa has not published bathymetry for Lake Meyer.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Lake Meyer
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.567 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +4.9 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.88 µg/L/yr | 4 |
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Winneshiek County
Nearby Lakes in Winneshiek County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Meyer
Where is Lake Meyer?
- Lake Meyer is a lake in Winneshiek County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Meyer?
- Lake Meyer in Winneshiek County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 49 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.5 µg/L. Surface area: 37.6 acres.
Is Lake Meyer safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Meyer?
- Lake Meyer typically sits around 70°F at the surface in September, from 25 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Meyer?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Lake Meyer, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 23 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 37.6 acres.
Explore Lake Meyer across LakeQuality
2 documented falls within 11.6 mi, nearest Dunning's Spring Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Iowa's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Iowa's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
Where this data comes from
68 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Iowa DNR Surface Water Monitoring Data
21IOWA_WQX68 samples · 2021–2024
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)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)