Rodgers Lake is a 23-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Benton 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 1 other monitored lakes in Benton County, Rodgers Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-10-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Rodgers Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 44.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 44.5 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 23 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Rodgers Lake
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Fishing Rodgers Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.41 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -15.63 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Rodgers Lake averages about 77°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Sep (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 29 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Rodgers Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Rodgers Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 14 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Benton County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Rodgers Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DPleasant Creek LakeLinn County · 14.6 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DMitchell LakeBlack Hawk County · 22.6 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DGreen Belt LakeBlack Hawk County · 25 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DOtter Creek LakeTama County · 25.3 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Benton County
Explore Rodgers 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)
Rodgers Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Rodgers Park Lake Dam (completed 1977), built primarily for recreation on the TR-CEDAR RIVER; earth-type dam, 30 ft tall and 700 ft long.
- Surface area
- 23 ac
- Normal storage
- 128 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 571 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.21 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Benton County Conservation Board
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01925 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.1 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Rodgers 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 02-CED-526 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.41 km)
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 Rodgers Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Mount Auburn City Of StpMount Auburn · 3.6 mi away · NPDES IA0059153Recent 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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2024-10-23
Monitoring stations: 1