Ambient Lake Monitoring
The Ambient Lake Monitoring program samples lakes in Iowa over the summer recreational season. Each lake is sampled three times between May and September: once in early summer, once in mid-summer, and once in late summer/early fall. Data from this project are used to assess the health of our lakes and target individual lakes for restoration and watershed improvement activities. Monitoring is currently completed through a partnership with the Iowa State University Limnology Laboratory.
Program Details
| Sampling Results (2015 to 2024) | 78,356 |
| # of Sites | 185 |
Current Ambient Lake Sites
Loading, please wait
SiteID | Site | County |
|---|---|---|
| 14000134 | Lost Grove Lake | SCOTT |
| 22010001 | Greenfield Lake | ADAIR |
| 22010002 | Lake Orient | ADAIR |
| 22010003 | Meadow Lake | ADAIR |
| 22010004 | Mormon Trail Lake | ADAIR |
| 22010005 | Nodaway Lake | ADAIR |
| 22020001 | Lake Icaria | ADAMS |
| 22020002 | Binder Lake | ADAMS |
| 22040001 | Rathbun Lake | APPANOOSE |
| 22050001 | Littlefield Lake (maximum water depth) | AUDUBON |
| 22060001 | Hannen Lake | BENTON |
| 22060002 | Rodgers Lake | BENTON |
| 22070001 | George Wyth Lake | BLACK HAWK |
| 22070002 | Green Belt Lake | BLACK HAWK |
| 22070003 | Meyers Lake | BLACK HAWK |
| 22070004 | Mitchell Lake (Deep point) | BLACK HAWK |
| 22070005 | South Prairie Lake | BLACK HAWK |
| 22080001 | Don Williams Lake Surface Grab (1) | BOONE |
| 22080004 | Don Williams Lake (maximum water depth) | BOONE |
| 22090001 | Avenue of the Saints Lake | BREMER |
| 22110001 | Storm Lake Max Depth | BUENA VISTA |
| 22110002 | Gustafson Lake | BUENA VISTA |
| 22110003 | Newell Pit | BUENA VISTA |
| 22110004 | Pickerel Lake | BUENA VISTA |
| 22130001 | North Twin Lake (maximum water depth) | CALHOUN |
| 22140001 | Swan Lake Max Depth | CARROLL |
| 22150001 | Cold Springs Lake | CASS |
| 22150002 | Lake Anita | CASS |
| 22170001 | Clear Lake | CERRO GORDO |
| 22170002 | Ventura Marsh | CERRO GORDO |
| 22170003 | Black Pit | CERRO GORDO |
| 22170004 | Blue Pit | CERRO GORDO |
| 22170005 | Fin and Feather Lake | CERRO GORDO |
| 22180001 | Spring Lake | CHEROKEE |
| 22190001 | Nashua Impoundment | CHICKASAW |
| 22200001 | East Lake Osceola | CLARKE |
| 22200002 | West Lake Osceola | CLARKE |
| 22210001 | Trumbull Lake Max Depth | CLAY |
| 22210002 | Elk Lake | CLAY |
| 22240001 | Nelson Lake | CRAWFORD |
| 22240002 | Yellow Smoke Lake | CRAWFORD |
| 22250001 | Beaver Lake | DALLAS |
| 22250002 | Dale Maffitt Reservoir | DALLAS |
| 22260001 | Lake Wapello | DAVIS |
| 22270001 | Little River Lake | DECATUR |
| 22270002 | Nine Eagles Lake | DECATUR |
| 22270003 | Slipbluff Lake | DECATUR |
| 22280001 | Silver Lake Max Depth | DELAWARE |
| 22280002 | Lake Delhi | DELAWARE |
| 22290001 | Lake Geode | DES MOINES |
| 22290002 | Big Hollow Lake | DES MOINES |
| 22300001 | Upper Gar Lake Surface Grab (1) | DICKINSON |
| 22300004 | Lower Gar Lake Surface Grab (1) | DICKINSON |
| 22300007 | Silver Lake Max Depth | DICKINSON |
| 22300008 | East Okoboji Lake | DICKINSON |
| 22300009 | West Okoboji Lake | DICKINSON |
| 22300010 | Center Lake | DICKINSON |
| 22300011 | Lake Minnewashta | DICKINSON |
| 22300012 | Lower Gar Lake | DICKINSON |
| 22300013 | Upper Gar Lake | DICKINSON |
| 22300014 | Big Spirit Lake | DICKINSON |
| 22300015 | Diamond Lake | DICKINSON |
| 22320001 | Ingham Lake | EMMET |
| 22320002 | Tuttle Lake | EMMET |
| 22320003 | High Lake | EMMET |
| 22320004 | West Swan Lake | EMMET |
| 22320005 | Iowa Lake | EMMET |
| 22330001 | Volga Lake (maximum water depth) | FAYETTE |
| 22340001 | Rudd Lake | FLOYD |
| 22350001 | Beeds Lake | FRANKLIN |
| 22350002 | Interstate Park Lake | FRANKLIN |
| 22350003 | Maynes Grove Lake | FRANKLIN |
| 22370001 | Spring Lake Max Depth | GREENE |
| 22390001 | Springbrook Lake | GUTHRIE |
| 22390002 | Lake Panorama | GUTHRIE |
| 22400001 | Little Wall Lake (maximum water depth) | HAMILTON |
| 22400004 | Briggs Woods Lake | HAMILTON |
| 22410001 | Crystal Lake Max Depth | HANCOCK |
| 22410002 | Eldred Sherwood Lake | HANCOCK |
| 22410003 | Lake Catherine | HANCOCK |
| 22410004 | West Twin Lake | HANCOCK |
| 22420001 | Lower Pine Lake | HARDIN |
| 22420002 | Upper Pine Lake | HARDIN |
| 22430001 | DeSoto Bend Lake | HARRISON |
| 22430002 | Willow Lake | HARRISON |
| 22450001 | Lake Hendricks | HOWARD |
| 22470001 | Crawford Creek Lake | IDA |
| 22470002 | Moorehead Lake | IDA |
| 22480001 | Lake Iowa | IOWA |
| 22500001 | Rock Creek Max Depth | JASPER |
| 22500002 | Mariposa Lake | JASPER |
| 22520001 | Lake Macbride (maximum water depth) | JOHNSON |
| 22520004 | Coralville Reservoir | JOHNSON |
| 22520005 | Kent Park Lake | JOHNSON |
| 22530001 | Central Park Lake | JONES |
| 22540001 | Lake Belva Deer | KEOKUK |
| 22540002 | Yenruogis Pond | KEOKUK |
| 22550001 | Smith Lake | KOSSUTH |
| 22560001 | Poll Miller Park Lake | LEE |
| 22570001 | Pleasant Creek Lake | LINN |
| 22580001 | Lake Odessa | LOUISA |
| 22590001 | Williamson Pond Max Depth | LUCAS |
| 22590002 | Red Haw Lake | LUCAS |
| 22600001 | Lake Pahoja | LYON |
| 22610001 | Badger Creek Lake Surface Grab (1) | MADISON |
| 22610004 | Badger Creek Max Depth | MADISON |
| 22610005 | Cedar Lake | MADISON |
| 22620001 | Hawthorn Lake | MAHASKA |
| 22620002 | Lake Keomah | MAHASKA |
| 22620003 | White Oak Lake | MAHASKA |
| 22630001 | Red Rock Reservoir | MARION |
| 22630002 | Roberts Creek Lake | MARION |
| 22640001 | Green Castle Lake | MARSHALL |
| 22650001 | Fulsom Lake | MILLS |
| 22650002 | Pony Creek Lake | MILLS |
| 22670001 | Oldham Lake | MONONA |
| 22670002 | Blue Lake | MONONA |
| 22670003 | Johnston Pit | MONONA |
| 22670004 | Savery Pond | MONONA |
| 22680001 | Lake Miami Max Depth | MONROE |
| 22690001 | Viking Lake | MONTGOMERY |
| 22710001 | Mill Creek Lake | O BRIEN |
| 22710002 | Dog Creek Lake | O BRIEN |
| 22730001 | Pierce Creek Lake | PAGE |
| 22740001 | Five Island Lake | PALO ALTO |
| 22740002 | Lost Island Lake | PALO ALTO |
| 22740003 | Silver Lake (Palo Alto County) | PALO ALTO |
| 22740004 | Virgin Lake | PALO ALTO |
| 22760001 | Lizard Lake | POCAHONTAS |
| 22770001 | Easter Lake (maximum water depth) | POLK |
| 22770004 | Big Creek | POLK |
| 22770005 | Saylorville Reservoir | POLK |
| 22770006 | Grays Lake | POLK |
| 22770007 | Blue Heron Lake | POLK |
| 22780001 | Carter Lake Max Depth | POTTAWATTAMIE |
| 22780002 | Arrowhead Lake (Pottawatamie) | POTTAWATTAMIE |
| 22780003 | Lake Manawa | POTTAWATTAMIE |
| 22790001 | Arbor Lake Surface Grab (8) | POWESHIEK |
| 22790004 | Arbor Lake Max Depth | POWESHIEK |
| 22790005 | Diamond Lake | POWESHIEK |
| 22800001 | Fogle Lake | RINGGOLD |
| 22800002 | Loch Ayr | RINGGOLD |
| 22800003 | Walnut Creek Marsh | RINGGOLD |
| 22810001 | Arrowhead Lake (Sac) | SAC |
| 22810002 | Black Hawk Lake | SAC |
| 22810005 | Black Hawk Pits | SAC |
| 22820001 | Lake of the Hills | SCOTT |
| 22830001 | Manteno Lake | SHELBY |
| 22830002 | Prairie Rose Lake | SHELBY |
| 22850001 | Hickory Grove Lake (maximum water depth) | STORY |
| 22860001 | Casey Lake | TAMA |
| 22860002 | Otter Creek Lake | TAMA |
| 22860003 | Union Grove Lake | TAMA |
| 22870001 | Lake of Three Fires Max Depth | TAYLOR |
| 22870002 | Wilson Lake | TAYLOR |
| 22870003 | Windmill Lake | TAYLOR |
| 22880001 | Green Valley Lake | UNION |
| 22880002 | Thayer Lake | UNION |
| 22880003 | Three Mile Lake | UNION |
| 22880004 | Twelve Mile Lake | UNION |
| 22880005 | Summit Lake | UNION |
| 22890001 | Indian Lake (maximum water depth) | VAN BUREN |
| 22890004 | Lacey Keosauqua Lake | VAN BUREN |
| 22890005 | Lake Sugema | VAN BUREN |
| 22900001 | Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth | WAPELLO |
| 22910001 | Hooper Pond Lake | WARREN |
| 22910002 | Lake Ahquabi | WARREN |
| 22920001 | Lake Darling Surface Grab (6) | WASHINGTON |
| 22920004 | Lake Darling Max Depth | WASHINGTON |
| 22930001 | Bob White Lake | WAYNE |
| 22940001 | Badger Lake | WEBSTER |
| 22940002 | Brushy Creek Lake | WEBSTER |
| 22950001 | Rice Lake | WINNEBAGO |
| 22960001 | Lake Meyer Surface Grab (4) | WINNESHIEK |
| 22960004 | Lake Meyer (maximum water depth) | WINNESHIEK |
| 22970001 | Browns Lake | WOODBURY |
| 22970002 | Little Sioux Park Lake | WOODBURY |
| 22970003 | Snyder Bend Lake | WOODBURY |
| 22980001 | Silver Lake (Worth County) | WORTH |
| 22990001 | Lake Cornelia (maximum water depth) | WRIGHT |
| 22990004 | Morse Lake | WRIGHT |
| 270630001 | Little Spirit Lake | JACKSON |
| 29170001 | Clear Lake West | CERRO GORDO |
| 29170002 | Clear Lake Central | CERRO GORDO |
| 29170003 | Clear Lake East | CERRO GORDO |
Lake Water Quality Summary 2015 to 2024
Summary statistics last calculated 2/10/2025 12:37:08 PM
| Analyte | Units | # Results | Min | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile | Max | Max Sample Date | % Non-detection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | mg/l | 3,940 | <0 | <1E-05 | <0.0001 | 0.005 | 0.01 | 0.015 | 0.433 | 7/17/2017 | 44.06 |
| Ammonia-nitrogen | mg/l | 3,967 | <0.0006 | <0.0048 | 0.016 | 0.028 | 0.071 | 0.1844 | 2.53 | 5/1/2024 | 18.60 |
| Calcium carbonate | mg/l | 3,940 | 37.54 | 81 | 95.6075 | 122 | 152.25 | 186.885 | 485 | 8/6/2018 | 0.00 |
| Chlorophyll a | ug/l | 3,967 | <0.392 | 3.3 | 7 | 22.07301 | 50.48416 | 93 | 649.8 | 8/9/2022 | 6.83 |
| Depth, Secchi disk depth | m | 3,962 | 0 | 0.3 | 0.42625 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 11.175 | 6/5/2023 | 0.00 |
| Dissolved oxygen (DO) | mg/l | 3,916 | 0 | 5.3 | 6.8 | 8.27 | 9.7 | 11.5 | 26.1 | 5/16/2016 | 0.00 |
| Dissolved oxygen saturation | % | 3,916 | 0 | 62.9 | 79.9925 | 97.2 | 114.0125 | 137.745 | 310.1 | 9/8/2016 | 0.00 |
| Escherichia coli | MPN/100ml | 410 | <1 | <1 | <1 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 6130 | 5/27/2020 | 47.56 |
| Fixed suspended solids | mg/l | 3,965 | <0 | <1.2 | <2.6 | 4 | 9 | 15.72 | 169 | 6/15/2015 | 33.06 |
| Kjeldahl nitrogen | mg/l | 3,824 | <0.16 | 0.6 | 0.86 | 1.22 | 1.76 | 2.34 | 8.84 | 6/13/2023 | 5.94 |
| Microcystin | ug/l | 2,934 | Not calculated when non-detections exceed 50% | 126.9 | 10/23/2024 | 57.50 | |||||
| Nitrate + Nitrite | mg/l | 3,824 | Not calculated when non-detections exceed 50% | 22.6 | 7/6/2015 | 50.60 | |||||
| Orthophosphate | mg/l | 3,966 | Not calculated when non-detections exceed 50% | 2 | 8/25/2024 | 67.45 | |||||
| pH | None | 3,900 | 6.45 | 7.8 | 8.06 | 8.3 | 8.59507 | 8.88 | 10.13 | 5/22/2023 | 0.00 |
| Phycocyanin | ug/l | 3,149 | <1.8 | 7 | 28.6 | 70.6 | 128.65 | 212.02 | 11107.53 | 6/28/2022 | 8.64 |
| Specific conductance | uS/cm | 3,940 | 79.4 | 217.99 | 263 | 339 | 434.43 | 546.49 | 1230 | 9/14/2020 | 0.00 |
| Temperature, water | deg C | 3,949 | 10.8 | 19 | 21.65455 | 23.9 | 25.93 | 27.4 | 31.7 | 7/11/2017 | 0.00 |
| Total dissolved solids | mg/l | 3,935 | 51.7 | 140 | 170.68333 | 220 | 281.75 | 355 | 800 | 9/14/2020 | 0.00 |
| Total Phosphorus, mixed forms | mg/l | 3,967 | <0.003 | 0.024 | 0.04215 | 0.0736 | 0.13045 | 0.21534 | 1.992 | 9/15/2021 | 3.10 |
| Total suspended solids | mg/l | 3,965 | <0.8 | <3 | 5.5 | 10.8 | 18 | 29 | 413 | 5/31/2022 | 10.97 |
| Turbidity | NTU | 3,766 | <0 | 1 | 3.6 | 8.3 | 16.19125 | 29.28906 | 427 | 8/23/2017 | 5.50 |
| Volatile Suspended Solids | mg/l | 1,254 | <0 | <3.6 | <4 | 4.3 | 7 | 13 | 182 | 5/22/2023 | 43.30 |
Project Codes in this Program
Loading, please wait
Code | Description |
|---|---|
| AMBLAKE-DNR | Ambient lake program - data collected by Iowa DNR WQMA section |
| AMBLAKE-ISU | Ambient lake program - data collected by Iowa State University Limnology Lab (ISU) |
| AMBLAKE-SHL | Ambient lake program - data collected by State Hygienic Lab (SHL) |
Additional Summary Calculations
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| TSI (ChlA) | 66 |
| TSI (Secchi) | 59 |
| TSI (TP) | 71 |