Terra Park Lake
Polk County, IowaView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 12 in the county
- Public access
Terra Park Lake in Polk County, Iowa has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 4.7 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Terra Park Lake’s letter
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Terra Park Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Polk County, Iowa. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Terra Park Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.5 ft of visibility
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.7 µg/L. TSI 45. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Fishing Terra Park Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1.1 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 12 lakes in Polk County
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. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Terra Park Lake?
- Terra Park Lake in Polk County, Iowa has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Terra Park Lake across LakeQuality
More Iowa Lake Rankings
Other Grade A 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)
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)