This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Okoboji at 100-meter resolution, combining road, aviation, and rail sources. Green areas measure below 45 dBA. Orange and red exceed the EPA's 55 dBA outdoor threshold linked to long-term health effects. Use the layer toggles to view each source on its own or all together.
What the numbers sound like
- 30 dBAWhisper
- 40 dBASoft rainfall
- 45 dBAQuiet suburban street at night
- 50 dBAQuiet office
- 55 dBAEPA outdoor threshold: light traffic 100 ft away
- 60 dBANormal conversation an arm's length away
- 65 dBABusy restaurant
- 70 dBAHighway traffic 50 ft away
- 80 dBACity bus interior
Population Above the EPA Outdoor Threshold
The EPA's 55 dBA outdoor reference level is a common benchmark for residential noise exposure, especially for activity interference, annoyance, and long-term community noise concerns. About 141 Okoboji residents, or 17.6%, live above that level. By land area, 23.5% of Okoboji is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Okoboji compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Okoboji
Average noise levels for Okoboji residents, grouped by direction from the center of Okoboji. Western Okoboji carries the highest population-weighted average; Central Okoboji carries the lowest. Just 2% of residents in Central Okoboji live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Western Okoboji.
Central Okoboji
2% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Okoboji
28% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Okoboji
20% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Okoboji
11% of people above 55 dBA
Western Okoboji
24% of people above 55 dBA
Western Okoboji sounds about 72% louder than Central Okoboji to the human ear, a 7.8 dBA gap. Every 10 dBA roughly doubles perceived loudness. Within any of these directions, two homes a quarter mile apart can still differ by 10 or more dBA depending on how close they sit to a major highway.
How far back from Lake Shore Drive, N do you need to be?
Lake Shore Drive, N produces an estimated 59 dBA at its loudest centerline points. Noise drops logarithmically with distance, with the exact rate depending on what's between you and the road. Tree cover, walls, terrain, and pavement type all matter. At roughly a quarter mile back, traffic fades into the noise level of a soft rainfall.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 7% of Okoboji sits under tree canopy (lighter than most cities) and roughly 24% is impervious surface like pavement and rooftops. Both are folded into the per-place decay rate above. Heavier canopy pulls noise down faster with distance; impervious surfaces slow the drop.