Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Story County, Iowa. Water quality is graded B 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 1 other monitored lakes in Story County, Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-10-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.8 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 5.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.8 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake in Story 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 Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake
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Fishing Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.556 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.08 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake averages about 78°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jun (about 78°F) and coldest in Sep (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2018–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Story County
Nearby Lakes in Story County
Explore Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Iowa
Mesotrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
11 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 6 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- South Squaw Valley AssociationAmes · 2.1 mi away · NPDES IA0068276Recent violation
- Hickory Grove Court, LlcAmes · 2.6 mi away · NPDES IA0067814Recent violation
- Iowa State University Power PlantAmes · 2.7 mi away · NPDES IA0032697Recent violation
- Gilbert, City Of StpGilbert · 2.8 mi away · NPDES IA0025968Recent violation
- City Of Ames Steam Electric PlantAmes · 3.2 mi away · NPDES IA0033235Recent violation
- Home City IceAmes · 3.5 mi away · NPDES IA0072061Recent violation
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2024-10-30
Monitoring stations: 1