Blue Heron Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Blue Heron Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 2.2 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 57.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 57.9 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Blue Heron Lake
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Fishing Blue Heron Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.572 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +15.4 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Blue Heron Lake averages about 86°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 86°F) and coldest in May (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2018–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Blue Heron Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 12 lakes in Polk County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Blue Heron Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ATerra Park LakePolk County · 8.1 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- BDale Maffitt ReservoirDallas County · 3.9 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- DEaster LakePolk County · 8.7 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Explore Blue Heron Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Blue Heron 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 04-RAC-3105 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Blue Heron Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Southwest Polk Water ServiceWest Des Moines · 0.4 mi away · NPDES IA0052799Recent violation
- Army Post Road Aquifer Storage & Recovery FacilityDes Moines · 2.1 mi away · NPDES IA0052975Recent violation
- Natural Gas Pipeline Co. Of AmericaDes Moines · 2.2 mi away · NPDES IA0059960
- West Des Moines, City Of MS4West Des Moines · 2.5 mi away · NPDES IA0078778
- Windsor Heights, City Of MS4Windsor Heights · 3.9 mi away · NPDES IA0078921
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: 2024-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1