Prairie Rose Lake is a 200-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Shelby 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. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Shelby County, Prairie Rose Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Prairie Rose Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 11 samples across 4 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: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 73.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 72.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 73.6 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 72 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 200 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Prairie Rose Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Prairie Rose Lake in Shelby 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 Prairie Rose Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.044 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -4.13 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Prairie Rose Lake averages about 78°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Oct (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 38 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Prairie Rose Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 6 lakes in Shelby County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Prairie Rose Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DCold Springs LakeCass County · 22.6 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DManteno LakeShelby County · 21.4 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Shelby County
Explore Prairie Rose Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Prairie Rose Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Prairie Rose Lake Dam (completed 1960), built primarily for recreation on the TR-EAST BR WEST NISHNABOTA; earth-type dam, 55 ft tall and 950 ft long.
- Surface area
- 200 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,602 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 6,824 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6.95 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01008 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Prairie Rose Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 05-NSH-1462 · 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 Prairie Rose Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Harlan City Of StpHarlan · 4.7 mi away · NPDES IA0021342MajorRecent 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
Most recent sample: 2024-09-05
Monitoring stations: 1