Pleasant Creek Lake
Linn County, Iowa410 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
- Public access
Pleasant Creek Lake in Linn County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 26.5 µg/L. Surface area: 410 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Typical in September
- 69°F
- Area
- 410 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 38 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 26.5 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Pleasant Creek Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pleasant Creek Lake in Linn 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 Pleasant Creek Lake are listed below.
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Pleasant Creek Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 50 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
Pleasant Creek Lake is a 410-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Linn County, Iowa. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Linn County, Pleasant Creek Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-08-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Pleasant Creek Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 8 samples across 3 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Iowa’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 26.5 µg/L. TSI 59. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 38 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 26.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Pleasant Creek Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 79°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°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 109 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pleasant Creek Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 410 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Pleasant Creek Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Pleasant Creek Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.02 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +38.97 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.63 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Pleasant Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Pleasant Creek Lake Dam (completed 1977), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the PLEASANT CREEK; earth-type dam, 73 ft tall and 2,450 ft long.
- Surface area
- 410 ac
- Normal storage
- 7,100 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 11,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.88 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA02083 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Pleasant Creek Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Nextera Energy Duane Arnold, LlcPalo · 2.3 mi away · NPDES IA0003727MajorRecent violation
- Dnr Pleasant Creek State Recreation AreaPalo · 0.2 mi away · NPDES IA0078433Recent violation
- Dnr Pleasant Creek State Recreation AreaPalo · 0.2 mi away · NPDES IA0078425Recent violation
- Center Point, City Of Stp (South)Center Point · 3.7 mi away · NPDES IA0074420Recent violation
- Shellsburg City Of StpShellsburg · 3.6 mi away · NPDES IA0033332
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 #1 of 2 lakes in Linn County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Pleasant Creek Lake holds Grade D. 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 Linn County
Frequently asked questions about Pleasant Creek Lake
Where is Pleasant Creek Lake?
- Pleasant Creek Lake is a lake in Linn County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Pleasant Creek Lake?
- Pleasant Creek Lake in Linn County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 26.5 µg/L. Surface area: 410 acres.
Is Pleasant Creek Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Pleasant Creek Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 8 samples across 3 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Pleasant Creek Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Iowa's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Pleasant Creek Lake?
- Pleasant Creek Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September, from 109 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Pleasant Creek 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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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)