West Lake Osceola is a 306-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Clarke County, Iowa. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is improving 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: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch West Lake Osceola water quality
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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 2.2 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 28.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28.7 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 306 acres |
Where to stay near West Lake Osceola
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Fishing West Lake Osceola
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.109 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.19 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
West Lake Osceola averages about 78°F at the surface in summer, 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 →
Location & Depth Map
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Clarke County
Nearby Lakes in Clarke County
Explore West Lake Osceola across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
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
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 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.
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: 2024-09-30
Monitoring stations: 1