Lpinelk T Lake is a 85-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Hardin County, Iowa. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Hardin County, Lpinelk T Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2023-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 1.3 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 73.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 73 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 85 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lpinelk T Lake
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Fishing Lpinelk T Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.034 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +11.78 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 7 lakes in Hardin County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lpinelk T Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Hardin County
Explore Lpinelk T Lake across LakeGrade
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Iowa
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Iowa
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lpinelk T Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lower Pine Lake Dam (completed 1922), built primarily for recreation on the PINE CREEK; earth-type dam, 33 ft tall and 450 ft long.
- Surface area
- 85 ac
- Normal storage
- 360 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 924 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 15.47 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
All listed purposes: Recreation;Other.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA01346 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.47 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Lpinelk T 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 02-IOW-758 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.28 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-27
Monitoring stations: 1