Hickory Grove Lake is a 107-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Story 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 Story County, Hickory Grove Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-08-25. 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 3.6 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 24.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 24.1 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 107 acres |
Where to stay near Hickory Grove Lake
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Fishing Hickory Grove Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.345 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +29.1 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Hickory Grove Lake averages about 77°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jun (about 77°F) and coldest in Sep (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hickory Grove Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Hickory Grove Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 32 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Story County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Hickory Grove Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BAda Hayden Heritage Park LakeStory County · 14.5 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CLake PetockaPolk County · 20 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Story County
Explore Hickory Grove 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)
Hickory Grove Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hickory Grove Lake Dam (completed 1966), built primarily for recreation on the TR-EAST INDIAN CREEK; earth-type dam, 56 ft tall and 745 ft long.
- Surface area
- 107 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,141 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,410 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6.76 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Story County Conservation Board
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01019 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Hickory Grove Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 03-SSK-950 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Hickory Grove Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 2 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Nevada City Of StpNevada · 4.6 mi away · NPDES IA0031704MajorRecent violation
- Nevada City Of WwtpNevada · 5 mi away · NPDES IA0053648MajorRecent violation
- Lakeside Living, LlcColo · 0.6 mi away · NPDES IA0068527Recent violation
- Colo City Of StpColo · 2.6 mi away · NPDES IA0047759Recent 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-08-25
Monitoring stations: 1