Pleasant Creek Lake
Pleasant Creek Lake in Linn County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 26.5 µg/L. Surface area: 410 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 80°F
- Area
- 410 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Pleasant Creek Lake →
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Pleasant Creek Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 50 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
Pleasant Creek Lake is a 410-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Linn County, Iowa. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 5 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Linn County, Pleasant Creek Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-08-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Pleasant Creek Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 8 samples across 3 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: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 26.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 38 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 26.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Pleasant Creek Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pleasant Creek Lake in Linn 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 Pleasant Creek Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Pleasant Creek Lake
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Pleasant Creek Lake → · more Iowa lake trips
Water Temperature
Pleasant Creek Lake typically sits around 80°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 79°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°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 109 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pleasant Creek Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 410 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Pleasant Creek Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- North Cedar Natural AreaPublic
Showing 1 of 5 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
Named access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, snapped within 5 km. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Pleasant Creek Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.02 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +38.97 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.63 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Pleasant Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Pleasant Creek Lake Dam (completed 1977), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the PLEASANT CREEK; earth-type dam, 73 ft tall and 2,450 ft long.
- Surface area
- 410 ac
- Normal storage
- 7,100 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 11,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.88 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA02083 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Pleasant Creek Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Nextera Energy Duane Arnold, LlcPalo · 2.3 mi away · NPDES IA0003727MajorRecent violation
- Dnr Pleasant Creek State Recreation AreaPalo · 0.2 mi away · NPDES IA0078433Recent violation
- Dnr Pleasant Creek State Recreation AreaPalo · 0.2 mi away · NPDES IA0078425Recent violation
- Center Point, City Of Stp (South)Center Point · 3.7 mi away · NPDES IA0074420Recent violation
- Shellsburg City Of StpShellsburg · 3.6 mi away · NPDES IA0033332
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 Linn County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Pleasant Creek Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Linn County
Frequently asked questions about Pleasant Creek Lake
Where is Pleasant Creek Lake?
- Pleasant Creek Lake is a lake in Linn County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Pleasant Creek Lake?
- Pleasant Creek Lake in Linn County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 26.5 µg/L. Surface area: 410 acres.
Is Pleasant Creek Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Pleasant Creek Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 8 samples across 3 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Pleasant Creek Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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 Pleasant Creek Lake?
- Pleasant Creek Lake typically sits around 80°F at the surface in August, from 109 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Pleasant Creek Lake?
- Pleasant Creek Lake has 5 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include North Cedar Natural Area, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pleasant Creek Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Iowa's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade D Lakes in Iowa
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Where this data comes from
63 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_WQX63 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory