Fort des Moines Park Pond is a 12-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Fort des Moines Park Pond ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Fort des Moines Park Pond water quality
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 32.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 32.6 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
Where to stay near Fort des Moines Park Pond
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fort des Moines Park Pond 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 Fort des Moines Park Pond
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.055 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -19.75 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Fort des Moines Park Pond averages about 79°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Jun (about 75°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2018–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Fort des Moines Park Pond water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Fort des Moines Park Pond, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 24 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 12 lakes in Polk County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Fort des Moines Park Pond holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ATerra Park LakePolk County · 11.2 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- BDale Maffitt ReservoirDallas County · 9.4 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- CLake PetockaPolk County · 15.7 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DThomas Mitchell LakePolk County · 14.5 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DEaster LakePolk County · 3.3 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Explore Fort des Moines Park Pond across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Fort des Moines Park Pond is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Fort Des Moines Park Dam (completed 1977), built primarily for recreation on the TR-NORTH RIVER; earth-type dam, 49 ft tall and 790 ft long.
- Surface area
- 11.6 ac
- Normal storage
- 120 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 240 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.33 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Polk County Conservation Board
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01840 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Fort des Moines Park Pond under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Des Moines - Nahas Aquatic CenterDes Moines · 1.6 mi away · NPDES IA0076511Recent violation
- Des Moines International AirportDes Moines · 2.2 mi away · NPDES IA0075931Recent violation
- Wilshire Mobile Home ParkNorwalk · 2.2 mi away · NPDES IA0067903Recent 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: 2024-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1