What is the water quality grade for Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake?

Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake in Wapello County, Iowa received a water quality grade of F (Very Poor). Water clarity: 0.9 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 86.9 µg/L.

Is Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake safe to swim in?

Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins. Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake has an overall water quality grade of F. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 86.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

Wapello County, Iowa

Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake

Grade FVery Poor · 0.9 ft clarity

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Hypereutrophic

Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Wapello County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins

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Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor

Very murky, less than 0.9 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 86.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 77.

Metric	Value	Grade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)	0.9 ft	F
Phosphorus	No data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)	86.9 µg/L	F
Trophic State Index (TSI)	77	Hypereutrophic

Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity

Where to stay near Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake in Wapello 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.

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Fishing Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake

→ Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Water Quality Trend: → Stable

Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

Metric	Trend	Change/Year	Years
Water Clarity	↓ Declining	-0.016 m/yr	4
Chlorophyll-a	↑ Improving	-8.16 µg/L/yr	4

See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Water Temperature

Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in Sep (about 77°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.

Jan

—

Feb

—

Mar

—

Apr

—

May

—

Jun

78°

Jul

84°

Aug

80°

Sep

77°

Oct

—

Nov

—

Dec

—

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2017–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake water temperature breakdown →

Location & Depth Map

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Free interactive depth-contour map of Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 13 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.