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. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Jones County, Central Park Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-08-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Central Park Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 23.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 23.2 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
Where to stay near Central Park Lake
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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 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.47 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Water Temperature
Central Park Lake averages about 78°F at the surface in summer, 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 →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Jones County
Nearby Lakes in Jones County
Explore Central Park Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-08-26
Monitoring stations: 1