Red Haw Lake is a 93-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lucas County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F 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 3 other monitored lakes in Lucas County, Red Haw Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-10-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Red Haw Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Red Haw Lake occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 7.1% of 112 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: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 30.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 30.8 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 93 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Red Haw Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Red Haw 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.
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Fishing Red Haw Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.083 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.11 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Red Haw Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°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 103 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Red Haw Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Red Haw Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 36 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Lucas County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Red Haw Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DBob White LakeWayne County · 20.6 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DRathbun LakeAppanoose County · 23.2 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Lucas County
Explore Red Haw Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Red Haw Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Red Haw Dam (completed 1934), built primarily for recreation on the TR-LITTLE WHITEBREAST CREEK; earth-type dam, 43 ft tall and 785 ft long.
- Surface area
- 93 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,040 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,200 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.63 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01357 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Red Haw 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-1073 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Red Haw 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.
- Chariton City Of StpChariton · 1.2 mi away · NPDES IA0028924MajorRecent violation
- Country Condos-StpChariton · 0.2 mi away · NPDES IA0074551
- Iowa Dot Maintenance Garage-CharitonChariton · 2.1 mi away · NPDES IA0075809
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: 2024-10-02
Monitoring stations: 1