Lake of Three Fires Max Depth
Taylor County, Iowa125 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #3 of 4 in the county
- Public access
Lake of Three Fires Max Depth in Taylor County, Iowa has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 89 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 58.6 µg/L. Surface area: 125 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in September
- 71°F
- Area
- 125 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 89 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 58.6 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Lake of Three Fires Max Depth
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake of Three Fires Max Depth in Taylor 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 of Three Fires Max Depth are listed below.
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Lake of Three Fires Max Depth, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 22 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
Lake of Three Fires Max Depth is a 125-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Taylor 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. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Taylor County, Lake of Three Fires Max Depth ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-10-01. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake of Three Fires Max Depth is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for algal growth, pathogens (E. coli, fecal), pH / acidity, turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 89 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 58.6 µg/L. TSI 69. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 89 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 58.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Lake of Three Fires Max Depth typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 79°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in May (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 100 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake of Three Fires Max Depth water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 125 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake of Three Fires Max Depth, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake of Three Fires Max Depth
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.104 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +47.4 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -6.41 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake of Three Fires Max Depth is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake of Three Fires Dam (completed 1967), built primarily for recreation on the TR-EAST 102 RIVER; earth-type dam, 32 ft tall and 980 ft long.
- Surface area
- 125 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,231 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,100 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6.15 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01058 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.16 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Lake of Three Fires Max Depth 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-PLA-1476 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.58 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Taylor County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake of Three Fires Max Depth holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Taylor County
Frequently asked questions about Lake of Three Fires Max Depth
Where is Lake of Three Fires Max Depth?
- Lake of Three Fires Max Depth is a lake in Taylor County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake of Three Fires Max Depth?
- Lake of Three Fires Max Depth in Taylor County, Iowa has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 89 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 58.6 µg/L. Surface area: 125 acres.
Is Lake of Three Fires Max Depth safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake of Three Fires Max Depth is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for algal growth, pathogens (E. coli, fecal), pH / acidity, turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake of Three Fires Max Depth?
- Lake of Three Fires Max Depth typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September, from 100 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake of Three Fires Max Depth across LakeQuality
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Iowa
Where this data comes from
54 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_WQX54 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database