Water Works Park Lake
Johnson County, KansasView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #12 of 13 in the county
Water Works Park Lake in Johnson County, Kansas has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 101.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 107 µg/L.
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 101.7 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 107 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Water Works Park Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Water Works Park Lake in Johnson County, Kansas — 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 Water Works Park Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Water Works Park Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Water Works Park Lake’s letter
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Water Works Park Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Johnson County, Kansas. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Johnson County, Water Works Park Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KDHE, last sampled 2021-09-14. 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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Water Works Park Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 101.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 107 µg/L. TSI 74. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 101.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 107 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 74 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Fishing Water Works Park Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 8 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +143.84 µg/L/yr | 8 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.94 µg/L/yr | 8 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Water Works Park Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Waterworks Dam (completed 1920), built primarily for other on the Mill Creek-Tr; other-type dam, 9 ft tall.
- Max storage
- 15.6 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.63 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- OLATHE, CITY OF
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KS04495 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.31 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Water Works Park Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit KS-LM062201 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.64 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 13 lakes in Johnson County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Water Works Park Lake holds Grade F. 2 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 Johnson County
Frequently asked questions about Water Works Park Lake
Where is Water Works Park Lake?
- Water Works Park Lake is a lake in Johnson County, Kansas. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Water Works Park Lake?
- Water Works Park Lake in Johnson County, Kansas has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 101.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 107 µg/L.
Is Water Works Park Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Water Works Park Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Water Works Park Lake across LakeQuality
More Kansas Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Kansas
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Kansas
Where this data comes from
46 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- EPA R7
EPA_R7_WQX46 samples · 2012–2021
Analytical methods
- Nutrient Analysis
- Chlorophyll a
- Fluorometric Analysis of Chlorophyll a (originally 2334.22A)
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