Lake Petocka
Polk County, IowaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 12 in the county
Lake Petocka in Polk County, Iowa has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 39.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Stays near Lake Petocka
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Watch Lake Petocka’s letter
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Lake Petocka is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Iowa. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Lake Petocka ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 39.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 9.3 µg/L. TSI 57. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 39.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Fishing Lake Petocka
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.135 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +13.75 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +7.9 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Petocka under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Country Living Mobile Home ParkAltoona · 3.5 mi away · NPDES IA0068004Recent violation
- Bondurant, City Of MS4Bondurant · 1.1 mi away · NPDES IA0078786
- Bondurant City Of StpBondurant · 1.6 mi away · NPDES IA0023396
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 #2 of 12 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Petocka holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Petocka
Where is Lake Petocka?
- Lake Petocka is a lake in Polk County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Petocka?
- Lake Petocka in Polk County, Iowa has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 39.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.3 µg/L.
Is Lake Petocka safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Lake Petocka across LakeQuality
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
Where this data comes from
47 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Iowa DNR Surface Water Monitoring Data
21IOWA_WQX47 samples · 2022–2024
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)