Central Park Lake
Jones County, Iowa25 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
Central Park Lake in Jones County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23.2 µg/L. Surface area: 25 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Typical in September
- 68°F
- Area
- 25 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 59 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 23.2 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Central Park Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Central Park Lake in Jones 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 Central Park Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Central Park Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Central Park Lake’s letter
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Central Park Lake is a 25-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jones County, Iowa. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-08-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 23.2 µg/L. TSI 61. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 59 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 23.2 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Central Park Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 67°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 Central Park Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Central Park Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Central Park Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.254 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +74.25 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.47 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Central Park Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Central Park Lake Dam (completed 1965), built primarily for recreation on the TR-MINERAL CREEK; earth-type dam, 23 ft tall and 665 ft long.
- Surface area
- 25 ac
- Normal storage
- 300 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 481 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.62 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Jones County Conservation Board
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA00561 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Central Park Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Center Junction, City Of StpCenter Junction · 3.3 mi away · NPDES IA0080357Recent 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Jones County
Nearby Lakes in Jones County
Frequently asked questions about Central Park Lake
Where is Central Park Lake?
- Central Park Lake is a lake in Jones County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Central Park Lake?
- Central Park Lake in Jones County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23.2 µg/L. Surface area: 25 acres.
Is Central Park Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Central Park Lake?
- Central Park Lake typically sits around 68°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.
Explore Central Park Lake across LakeQuality
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Other Grade D Lakes in Iowa
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Where this data comes from
53 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Iowa DNR Surface Water Monitoring Data
21IOWA_WQX53 samples · 2021–2024
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)