Center Lake
Dickinson County, Iowa287 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Turbidity
- #8 of 8 in the county
- 46 ft max depth
- Public access
Center Lake in Dickinson County, Iowa has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 60 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 39.6 µg/L. Surface area: 287 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Typical in September
- 72°F
- Max depth
- ~46 ft est.
- Area
- 287 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 60 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 39.6 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Center Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Center Lake
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? Cabins and lodging at Center Lake → · more Iowa lake trips
Watch Center Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
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.
Center Lake is a 287-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Dickinson County, Iowa with an estimated average depth of about 46 feet. 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 1 public boat landing. 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: LakeQuality methodology.
What Center Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Center Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 60 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 39.6 µg/L. TSI 65. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 60 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 39.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Center Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 75°F. 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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~46 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~9 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 287 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Iowa has not published bathymetry for Center Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Center Lake ComplexPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
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 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +4.15 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.58 µg/L/yr | 5 |
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 8 lakes in Dickinson County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Center Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Dickinson County
Frequently asked questions about Center Lake
Where is Center Lake?
- Center Lake is a lake in Dickinson County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Center Lake?
- Center Lake in Dickinson County, Iowa has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 60 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 39.6 µg/L. Surface area: 287 acres.
Is Center Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Center Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Center Lake?
- Center Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September, from 27 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Center Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Center Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 46 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 287 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Center Lake?
- Center Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Center Lake Complex. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Center Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Iowa's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Iowa
Where this data comes from
57 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_WQX57 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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