Snyder Bend Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Woodbury County, Iowa. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Woodbury County, Snyder Bend Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 27.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 27.3 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Snyder Bend Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Snyder Bend Lake in Woodbury 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 Snyder Bend Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.44 m/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +41.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Water Temperature
Snyder Bend Lake averages about 76°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jun (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 18 field readings (2011–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Snyder Bend Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Snyder Bend Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 11 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Woodbury County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Snyder Bend Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Woodbury County
Explore Snyder Bend Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Snyder Bend 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 06-WEM-1734 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Snyder Bend 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.
- Midamerican Energy - Neal South Energy CtrSalix · 1.8 mi away · NPDES IA0061859Major
- Winnavegas Casino ComplexSloan · 3.9 mi away · NPDES IA0073717Recent 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: 2024-09-19
Monitoring stations: 1