Lake Wapello is a 287-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Davis County, Iowa. Water quality is graded C 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 1 other monitored lakes in Davis County, Lake Wapello ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lake Wapello water quality
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Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Lake Wapello occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 7.3% of 110 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: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 13 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 287 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Wapello
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Wapello in Davis 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 Wapello
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Fishing Lake Wapello
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.244 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.87 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Lake Wapello averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in May (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 101 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Wapello water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Lake Wapello, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 32 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Davis County
Nearby Lakes in Davis County
Explore Lake Wapello across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Wapello is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Wapello Dam (completed 1934), built primarily for recreation on the Pee Dee Creek; earth-type dam, 57 ft tall and 1,500 ft long.
- Surface area
- 287 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,790 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 7,610 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7.98 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA00301 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Wapello 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 04-LDM-1035 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Lake Wapello under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Dnr Lake Wapello State ParkDrakesville · 0.4 mi away · NPDES IA0076694Recent 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: 2024-09-17
Monitoring stations: 1