Swimming Lakes Near Des Moines
Iowa
2 lakes within driving distance of Des Moines, Iowa pass the low-algae screen — favourable clarity and nutrient readings, low algae, and public access. 0 have direct bacteria (E. coli) testing on record. Filtered for the clearest, lowest-nutrient readings in the sampling record, low algae (chlorophyll-a under 15 µg/L), and public access. Not a swimming clearance: always check local advisories on the day you swim.
Lakes near Des Moines are sparser (2 measured lakes within reach), so the choices are limited. Terra Park Lake carries the lowest nutrient and algae readings of them.
The swimming-specific ranking layered on top of the readings is what produces the list below: a lake with clean readings that does not also support the swimming use case is less useful than a decent one that does.
| # | Lake | County | Bacteria | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terra Park Lake | Polk | Low algae | 6.6 mi | 11.5 ft | - |
| 2 | Dale Maffitt Reservoir | Dallas | Low algae | 9.9 mi | 9.8 ft | - |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.