Center Lake is a 287-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dickinson County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Dickinson County, Center Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Center Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Center Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 4.9% of 102 samples across 7 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: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 39.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 39.6 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 287 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Center Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Center Lake in Dickinson 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 Center Lake
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Fishing Center Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.095 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.58 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Center Lake averages about 75°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 27 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Center Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Center Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 16 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 8 lakes in Dickinson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Center Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- AWest Okoboji LakeDickinson County · 2.5 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- CUpper Gar LakeDickinson County · 3.1 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CBig Spirit LakeDickinson County · 5.5 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DEast Okoboji LakeDickinson County · 2.4 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DLake MinnewashtaDickinson County · 3.7 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Dickinson County
Explore Center Lake across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Iowa Great Lakes area
Where to stay at Iowa's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Iowa's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Center Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Center Lake Outlet Control Structure (completed 2009), built primarily for recreation on the Trib to West Okoboji Lake; earth-type dam, 7 ft tall and 60 ft long.
- Surface area
- 287 ac
- Normal storage
- 0 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 800 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.36 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA03972 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.34 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Center 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 06-LSR-1663 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Center Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Project Blue ResidenceOkoboji · 1.1 mi away · NPDES IA0053145
- Smith DevelopmentSpirit Lake · 1.6 mi away · NPDES IA0053712
- North Bay TrailSpirit Lake · 1.7 mi away · NPDES IA0053226
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)
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: 2024-09-09
Monitoring stations: 1