Easter Lake
Polk County, Iowa218 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- #4 of 12 in the county
- 39 ft max depth
- Public access
Easter Lake in Polk County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 49.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.8 µg/L. Surface area: 218 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.9 ft
- Typical in September
- 72°F
- Max depth
- ~39 ft est.
- Area
- 218 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 49.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 22.8 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Easter Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Easter Lake
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Watch Easter Lake’s letter
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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.
Easter Lake is a 218-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Iowa with an estimated average depth of about 39 feet. 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. 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: 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 2.9 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 49.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 22.8 µg/L. TSI 61. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 49.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 22.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Easter Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 77°F. 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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~39 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~14 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 218 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 Easter 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.
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 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +22.15 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.77 µg/L/yr | 5 |
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 12 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Easter Lake holds Grade D. 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 Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Easter Lake
Where is Easter Lake?
- Easter Lake is a lake in Polk County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Easter Lake?
- Easter Lake in Polk County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 49.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.8 µg/L. Surface area: 218 acres.
Is Easter 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 Easter Lake?
- Easter Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September, from 21 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Easter Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Easter Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 39 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 218 acres.
Explore Easter Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Iowa's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade D Lakes in Iowa
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Where this data comes from
63 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_WQX63 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)