Wilson Lake is a 17-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Taylor County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Taylor County, Wilson Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-10-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Wilson 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 1.6 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 48.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 70.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 48.3 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 70 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
Where to stay near Wilson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wilson Lake in Taylor 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 Wilson Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.318 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -10.39 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Wilson Lake averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in Sep (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 23 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Wilson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Wilson Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 16 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Taylor County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Wilson Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DBinder LakeAdams County · 14.4 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DLoch Ayr LakeRinggold County · 17.1 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Taylor County
Explore Wilson Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Wilson Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Wilson Lake Dam (completed 1967), built primarily for recreation on the TR-EAST 102 RIVER; earth-type dam, 29 ft tall and 970 ft long.
- Surface area
- 16.5 ac
- Normal storage
- 142 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 204 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.36 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Taylor County Conservation Board
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01057 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Wilson 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 05-PLA-1477 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.19 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Wilson Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Michael Foods, Inc.Lenox · 2.9 mi away · NPDES IA0075647Recent violation
- Lenox City Of StpLenox · 3.2 mi away · NPDES IA0027995
- Clearfield City Of StpClearfield · 4.3 mi away · NPDES IA0070980
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)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-10-01
Monitoring stations: 1