Story County Lake Quality
Iowa, 3 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Story County holds 3 monitored lakes. With a sample that small the county-level summary describes those specific waters, not necessarily every water body in the county. 2 of those lakes carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Where to stay near Story County
Top-rated places to stay near Story County
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 to Story County?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Story County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Quick Answers for Story County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake — or check the official Iowa fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Story County
3 lakes · 2 graded, 1 not rated2 graded lakes · 1 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AAda Hayden Heritage Park LakeStory | A | 6.8 ft | 19 µg/L | 5.2 µg/L | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 2 | DHickory Grove LakeStory | D | 3.6 ft | 50.5 µg/L | 24.1 µg/L | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| NRHendrickson Marsh LakeStory | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
NR = not rated: there is not enough recent sampling to support a letter. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.
Lake Match
Which lake suits how you actually use one?
Six questions — swimming, fishing, quiet, cabins, drive time — and a shortlist of graded lakes that fit, with the water quality behind each one.
Other Counties in Iowa
See how Story County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.