Terra Park Lake
Polk County, IowaView mapDirections
Iowa DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Terra Park Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
Terra Park Lake in Polk County, Iowa has water-quality measurements published by Iowa DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L.
Terra Park Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Polk County, Iowa. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Terra Park Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Iowa DNR, last sampled 2024-09-11. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Terra Park Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.5 ft of visibility
- Camping3 public campgrounds nearby
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Terra Park Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Terra Park Lake
These are the measurements Iowa DNR publishes for Terra Park Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.7 µg/L. TSI 45.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 11.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 20µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4.7µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 45 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Terra Park Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Terra Park Lake
- Cottonwood Recreation Area4.2 kmReserve
- Bob Shetler Picnic Area4.4 kmReserve
- Bob Shetler Recreation Area4.8 kmReserve
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Terra Park Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Terra Park Lake in Polk 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Terra Park Lake
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Fishing Terra Park Lake
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2023–2024). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Worsening2 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.5 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-3.7 µg/L/yr2 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
10 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Terra Park Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Camp DodgeJohnston · 1.9 mi away · NPDES IA0063215Recent violation
- Saylorville Water Treatment PlantDes Moines · 3 mi away · NPDES IA0079847Recent violation
- Johnston, City Of MS4Johnston · 1 mi away · NPDES IA0078212
- Urbandale, City Of MS4Urbandale · 2.8 mi away · NPDES IA0078620
- Saylorville-Bob Shetler StpJohnston · 3.2 mi away · NPDES IA0065528
- Pepsi Beverages CompanyUrbandale · 3.6 mi away · NPDES IA0081035
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.
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Terra Park Lake
Where is Terra Park Lake?
- Terra Park Lake is a lake in Polk County, Iowa. Its water-quality measurements are published by Iowa DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Terra Park Lake?
- Terra Park Lake in Polk County, Iowa has water-quality measurements published by Iowa DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L.
Is Terra Park Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Can I fish at Terra Park Lake?
- Public access to Terra Park Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Iowa's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Terra Park Lake?
- Terra Park Lake has 3 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Cottonwood Recreation Area, Bob Shetler Picnic Area, Bob Shetler Recreation Area. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Terra Park Lake across LakeQuality
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Other Lakes in Iowa
Mesotrophic Lakes in Iowa
Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Iowa DNR Surface Water Monitoring Data
21IOWA_WQX36 samples · 2023–2024
Analytical methods
- Unknown
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- In-Vitro Determination of Chlorophyll
- ISU modification of APHA 2130-B
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles