Morris Lake
Lucas County, Iowa155 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
- #2 of 4 in the county
- 39 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Morris Lake in Lucas County, Iowa has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 110 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 43.1 µg/L. Surface area: 155 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.6 ft
- Typical in September
- 78°F
- Max depth
- ~39 ft est.
- Area
- 155 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 110 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 43.1 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Morris Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Morris Lake in Lucas 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 Morris Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Morris Lake
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 Morris Lake → · more Iowa lake trips
Watch Morris Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Free interactive depth-contour map of Morris Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 18 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
Morris Lake is a 155-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Lucas County, Iowa with an estimated average depth of about 39 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Lucas County, Morris Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2022-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Morris Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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. Morris Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 110 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 43.1 µg/L. TSI 70. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 110 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 43.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 70 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Morris Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 83°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 8 field readings (2018–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Morris Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~39 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~16 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 155 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 Morris Lake.
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 MorrisPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Morris Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.1 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.65 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -10.55 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Morris Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Morris Dam (completed 1993), built primarily for water supply on the LITTLE WHITEBREAST CREEK; earth-type dam, 39 ft tall and 1,060 ft long.
- Surface area
- 155 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,270 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,440 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7.13 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Chariton Municipal Utilities
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01359 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Morris Lake 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-1071 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Morris Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Russell City Of StpRussell · 4.3 mi away · NPDES IA0043176Recent 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Lucas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Morris Lake 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.
Nearby Lakes in Lucas County
Frequently asked questions about Morris Lake
Where is Morris Lake?
- Morris Lake is a lake in Lucas County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Morris Lake?
- Morris Lake in Lucas County, Iowa has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 110 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 43.1 µg/L. Surface area: 155 acres.
Is Morris Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Morris Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Morris Lake?
- Morris Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in September, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Morris Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Morris Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 39 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 155 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Morris Lake?
- Morris Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Morris. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Morris Lake across LakeQuality
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Iowa
Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Iowa DNR Surface Water Monitoring Data
21IOWA_WQX32 samples · 2020–2022
Analytical methods
- Unknown
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory