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. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2022-09-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Spring Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 25.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 25.1 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Spring Lake
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Fishing Spring Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.1 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.85 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Spring Lake averages about 77°F at the surface in summer, 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 →
Location & Depth Map
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Cherokee County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Spring Lake holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CLittle Sioux Park LakeWoodbury County · 23.8 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CNewell Pit LakeBuena Vista County · 27.5 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- DDog Creek LakeO'Brien County · 14.3 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DStorm Lake Max DepthBuena Vista County · 19.7 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DMoorehead LakeIda County · 26.7 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Cherokee County
Explore Spring 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)
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.
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)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-09-12
Monitoring stations: 1