Easter Lake is a 218-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Iowa. Water quality is graded D 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 11 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Easter Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Easter 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 2.9 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 22.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.9 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 22.8 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 218 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Easter Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Easter Lake in Polk 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.
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Fishing Easter Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.114 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.77 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Easter Lake averages about 77°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in May (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 21 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Easter Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Easter Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 20 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 12 lakes in Polk County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Easter Lake holds Grade D. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ATerra Park LakePolk County · 11.1 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → A)
- BDale Maffitt ReservoirDallas County · 12.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CLake PetockaPolk County · 12.6 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- DThomas Mitchell LakePolk County · 11.2 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Explore Easter 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)
Easter Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Easter Lake Dam (completed 1967), built primarily for recreation on the YEADER CREEK; earth-type dam, 43 ft tall and 1,860 ft long.
- Surface area
- 218 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,200 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 6,200 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 10.16 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Polk County Conservation Board
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA00915 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
7 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Easter Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 2 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Greater Des Moines Energy CenterPleasant Hill · 1.8 mi away · NPDES IA0077941MajorRecent violation
- Des Moines Metropolitan WrfDes Moines · 1.9 mi away · NPDES IA0044130Major
- Magellan Pipeline Company, L.P.Des Moines · 1.8 mi away · NPDES IA0064076Recent violation
- Magellan Pipeline Company, L.P. - Blanket PermitDes Moines · 1.9 mi away · NPDES IA0076775
- Oneok North System, Llc - Blanket PermitDes Moines · 2.2 mi away · NPDES IA0070971
- Titan Tire CorporationDes Moines · 2.8 mi away · NPDES IA0001309
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)
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: 2024-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1