West Lake Osceola
Clarke County, Iowa306 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
- #1 of 2 in the county
- 31 ft max depth
West Lake Osceola in Clarke County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 75.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.7 µg/L. Surface area: 306 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.2 ft
- Typical in September
- 72°F
- Max depth
- ~31 ft est.
- Area
- 306 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near West Lake Osceola
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Lake Osceola in Clarke 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around West Lake Osceola are listed below.
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Free interactive depth-contour map of West Lake Osceola, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 15 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
West Lake Osceola is a 306-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Clarke County, Iowa with an estimated average depth of about 31 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Clarke County, West Lake Osceola ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-30. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. West Lake Osceola is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 75.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 28.7 µg/L. TSI 65. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 75.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
West Lake Osceola typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 69°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 West Lake Osceola water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~31 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~14 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 306 acres |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Iowa has not published bathymetry for West Lake Osceola.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing West Lake Osceola
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.109 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +13.85 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.19 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
West Lake Osceola is a man-made reservoir impounded by the West Lake Dam (completed 1935), built primarily for water supply on the TR-SOUTH SQUAW CREEK; earth-type dam, 58 ft tall and 1,275 ft long.
- Surface area
- 306 ac
- Normal storage
- 4,195 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 9,675 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 9.84 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- City of Osceola Water Utilities Board
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA00213 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.1 km)
EPA Impairment Status
West Lake Osceola 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-1082 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of West Lake Osceola under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Osceola City Of WtpOsceola · 0.1 mi away · NPDES IA0082953Recent 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Clarke County
Nearby Lakes in Clarke County
Frequently asked questions about West Lake Osceola
Where is West Lake Osceola?
- West Lake Osceola is a lake in Clarke County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for West Lake Osceola?
- West Lake Osceola in Clarke County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 75.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.7 µg/L. Surface area: 306 acres.
Is West Lake Osceola safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. West Lake Osceola is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of West Lake Osceola?
- West Lake Osceola typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September, from 29 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is West Lake Osceola?
- No published bathymetric survey covers West Lake Osceola, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 31 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 306 acres.
Explore West Lake Osceola across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
62 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Iowa DNR Surface Water Monitoring Data
21IOWA_WQX62 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Unknown
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- In-Vitro Determination of Chlorophyll
- ISU modification of APHA 2130-B
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)