Spring Lake
Cherokee County, Iowa15 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Turbidity
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
Spring Lake in Cherokee County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 88.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25.1 µg/L. Surface area: 15 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 78°F
- Area
- 15 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Spring Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spring Lake in Cherokee 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 Spring Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Spring Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Iowa’s top lakes →
Watch Spring Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Free interactive depth-contour map of Spring Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 7 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Iowa DNR.
Spring Lake is a 15-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cherokee County, Iowa. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2022-09-12. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Spring Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 88.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 25.1 µg/L. TSI 65. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 88.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 25.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Spring Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Jun (about 74°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2018–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Spring Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Spring Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Spring Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.1 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +43.4 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.85 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Spring Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Spring Lake Dam, built primarily for recreation on the Unnamed trib to Little Sioux River; earth-type dam, 8 ft tall and 100 ft long.
- Surface area
- 15 ac
- Normal storage
- 57 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 100 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 300 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Cherokee City Parks Board
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IA04319 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Spring Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IA 06-LSR-1569 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Spring Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Cherokee City Of StpCherokee · 0.8 mi away · NPDES IA0059005MajorRecent violation
- Cherokee Rural Water District #1 - Cherokee SubsystemCherokee · 4.4 mi away · NPDES IA0082791
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 1 lakes in Cherokee County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Spring Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Cherokee County
Frequently asked questions about Spring Lake
Where is Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake is a lake in Cherokee County, Iowa. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake in Cherokee County, Iowa has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 88.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25.1 µg/L. Surface area: 15 acres.
Is Spring Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Spring Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Spring Lake across LakeQuality
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Iowa
Eutrophic Lakes in Iowa
Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Iowa DNR Surface Water Monitoring Data
21IOWA_WQX32 samples · 2020–2022
Analytical methods
- Unknown
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)