Volga Lake is a 135-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Fayette County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-10-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Volga 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 2.1 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 52.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 52.2 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 135 acres |
Where to stay near Volga Lake
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Fishing Volga Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.01 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +22.65 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Volga Lake averages about 76°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 31 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Volga Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Volga Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 20 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Fayette County
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Explore Volga Lake across LakeGrade
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Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Volga Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Volga Lake Dam (completed 1980), built primarily for recreation on the TR-VOLGA RIVER; earth-type dam, 45 ft tall and 1,710 ft long.
- Surface area
- 135 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,670 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,808 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA02029 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Volga 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 01-VOL-292 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.7 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Volga Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Dnr Volga River Recreational Area WwtpFayette · 0.4 mi away · NPDES IA0082317Recent violation
- West Union City Of StpWest Union · 3.5 mi away · NPDES IA0035378Recent violation
- Fayette City Of StpFayette · 3.8 mi away · NPDES IA0027456Recent violation
- Prairie View Care FacilityFayette · 3.3 mi away · NPDES IA0061875
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: 2024-10-21
Monitoring stations: 1