West Okoboji Lake
Dickinson County, IowaView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Pathogens (E. coli, fecal)
- #1 of 8 in the county
- Public access
West Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County, Iowa has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 15.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 15.7 ft
- Typical in September
- 71°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near West Okoboji Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Okoboji Lake in Dickinson 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.
Top-rated places to stay near West Okoboji Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at West Okoboji Lake → · more Iowa lake trips
Watch West Okoboji Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Free interactive depth-contour map of West Okoboji Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 135 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
West Okoboji Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Dickinson County, Iowa. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Dickinson County, West Okoboji Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What West Okoboji Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water15.7 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
West Okoboji Lake Water Quality Report Card (2026)
A printable one-page report card for West Okoboji Lake: grade, clarity, phosphorus, algae, multi-year trend, depth, and fish — with sources.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A · advisory
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Water 49°F now
Based on E. coli testing, West Okoboji Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 5 samples across 2 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Iowa’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Crystal clear, you can see 15.7 ft down. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.3 µg/L. TSI 41. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Current Conditions
USGS snapshot Sep 7, 2026, 3:45 PM from gauge 06604200 (West Okoboji Lake at Lakeside Lab near Milford, IA). Station page ↗ — a live reading replaces this snapshot when the gauge responds. Missing live data is not an all-clear.
→ West Okoboji Lake water level: the live USGS gauge reading
Water Temperature
West Okoboji Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — see Current Conditions above for the latest gauge reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 101 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full West Okoboji Lake water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Okoboji Sailing CenterSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing West Okoboji Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.309 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.8 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.1 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
West Okoboji 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-LSR-2066 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.28 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
15 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of West Okoboji Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Central Water SystemOkoboji · 0.8 mi away · NPDES IA0083879Recent violation
- Whitecap AdditionArnolds Park · 0.7 mi away · NPDES IA0052945
- Quiring Residence StormwaterOkoboji · 0.8 mi away · NPDES IA0053623
- Lakeside Ave. Infrastructure ImprovementsWahpeton · 0.8 mi away · NPDES IA0053299
- Sherwood ForestOkoboji · 0.8 mi away · NPDES IA0053342
- Wahpeton Street Improvements ProjectWahpeton · 0.9 mi away · NPDES IA0053631
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 8 lakes in Dickinson County
Nearby Lakes in Dickinson County
Frequently asked questions about West Okoboji Lake
Where is West Okoboji Lake?
- West Okoboji Lake is a lake in Dickinson County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for West Okoboji Lake?
- West Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County, Iowa has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 15.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L.
Is West Okoboji Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, West Okoboji Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 5 samples across 2 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. West Okoboji Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Iowa's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of West Okoboji Lake?
- West Okoboji Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September, from 101 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading. A USGS gauge on this lake last read 49°F.
What is the water level at West Okoboji Lake?
- The USGS snapshot on this page for West Okoboji Lake is 4.04 ft of gage height, recorded Sep 7, 2026, 3:45 PM at gauge 06604200. Current Conditions hydrates a live NWIS reading from that same station when the gauge responds. A missed live fetch is not an all-clear.
Are there boat ramps on West Okoboji Lake?
- West Okoboji Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Okoboji Sailing Center. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore West Okoboji Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Iowa Great Lakes area
Where to stay at Iowa's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Iowa's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Iowa
Mesotrophic Lakes in Iowa
Where this data comes from
264 measurements from 5 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Iowa DNR Surface Water Monitoring Data
21IOWA_WQX264 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 (5)
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)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory