Newell Pit Lake
Buena Vista County, IowaView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↑ up from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 3 in the county
Newell Pit Lake in Buena Vista County, Iowa has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 37 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.9 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 37 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 11.9 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
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Watch Newell Pit Lake’s letter
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Newell Pit Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Buena Vista County, Iowa. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Buena Vista County, Newell Pit Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2022-09-12. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 4.1 ft. Phosphorus 37 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 11.9 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 37 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Newell Pit Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Jun (about 73°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 Newell Pit Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Newell Pit Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.25 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +9.7 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.05 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Newell Pit Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Newell, City Of StpNewell · 2.7 mi away · NPDES IA0021989
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 3 lakes in Buena Vista County
Nearby Lakes in Buena Vista County
Frequently asked questions about Newell Pit Lake
Where is Newell Pit Lake?
- Newell Pit Lake is a lake in Buena Vista County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Newell Pit Lake?
- Newell Pit Lake in Buena Vista County, Iowa has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 37 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.9 µg/L.
Is Newell Pit Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Newell Pit Lake?
- Newell Pit Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Newell Pit Lake across LakeQuality
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)