Cold Springs Lake is a 16-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cass 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 Cass County, Cold Springs Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 4.8 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 21.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.8 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 21.6 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
Where to stay near Cold Springs Lake
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Fishing Cold Springs Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.019 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +3.52 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Cold Springs Lake averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in Sep (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 29 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cold Springs Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Cold Springs Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 14 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Cass County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Cold Springs Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Explore Cold Springs 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)
Cold Springs Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Cold Springs Dam (completed 1949), built primarily for recreation on the TR- EAST NISHNABOTNA RIVER; earth-type dam, 12 ft tall and 1,350 ft long.
- Surface area
- 15.5 ac
- Normal storage
- 50 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 75 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA03165 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Cold Springs Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Lewis City Of StpLewis · 1.6 mi away · NPDES IA0057487
- J. W. Freund Farms, Inc.Lewis · 1.8 mi away · NPDES IA0078476
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: 2024-09-29
Monitoring stations: 1