Lake Sugema
Van Buren County, Iowa574 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- #3 of 3 in the county
- 49 ft max depth
- Public access
Lake Sugema in Van Buren County, Iowa has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 32.5 µg/L. Surface area: 574 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Typical in September
- 73°F
- Max depth
- ~49 ft est.
- Area
- 574 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Sugema
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Sugema in Van Buren 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 Sugema are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Sugema
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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Sugema → · more Iowa lake trips
Watch Lake Sugema’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Free interactive depth-contour map of Lake Sugema, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 32 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
Lake Sugema is a 574-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Van Buren County, Iowa with an estimated average depth of about 49 feet. 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 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Van Buren County, Lake Sugema ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Sugema is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 32.5 µg/L. TSI 64. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 57 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 32.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Lake Sugema typically sits around 73°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°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 26 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Sugema water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~49 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~12 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 574 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
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 Sugema.
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.
Recreation & Access
- Lake Sugema Wildlife AreaPublic
- Lake Sugema Wildlife AreaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Sugema
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.069 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.6 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.22 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Sugema is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Sugema Dam (completed 1992), built primarily for recreation on the INDIAN CREEK; earth-type dam, 50 ft tall and 1,530 ft long.
- Surface area
- 574 ac
- Normal storage
- 7,350 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 21,570 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 17.66 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Van Buren County Board of Supervisors
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA02626 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Van Buren County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Sugema holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Van Buren County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Sugema
Where is Lake Sugema?
- Lake Sugema is a lake in Van Buren 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 Sugema?
- Lake Sugema in Van Buren County, Iowa has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 32.5 µg/L. Surface area: 574 acres.
Is Lake Sugema safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Sugema?
- Lake Sugema typically sits around 73°F at the surface in September, from 26 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Sugema?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Lake Sugema, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 49 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 574 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Sugema?
- Lake Sugema has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Sugema Wildlife Area, Lake Sugema Wildlife Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Sugema across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Iowa's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Iowa's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory