What's the problem with Rock Creek Lake?
Located in Jasper County, Rock Creek Lake offers visitors a range of recreational opportunities, including a lakeside campground, which is consistently one of the busiest campgrounds in Iowa. Although the lake is known for its recreational activities and great fishing, many factors are threatening the lake.

The Rock Creek Lake Watershed Project was created to improve the lake's water quality, which is threatened by sediment and nutrients, especially phosphorous. Rock Creek Lake was constructed in 1952 and was originally constructed to be 24 feet deep, but due to an excessively large watershed to lake area ratio (54:1) and a predominantly agricultural watershed, Rock Creek Lake has lost nearly 40 percent of its volume and 102 acres of surface area over the past 50 years. High levels of nutrients can result in high levels of algae, but can lead to more serious problems like low oxygen levels. These high levels of nutrients also affect the fish population. Carp also stir up the bottom of the lake, which causes cloudy water.
Back to top

What can I do to help Rock Creek Lake?
Landowners can consider installing conservation practices to control the amount of sediment, nutrients and other pollutants reaching Rock Creek Lake.

Financial assistance is available, and the benefits extend beyond cleaner water - often conservation practices can produce financial benefits, create recreational opportunities and provide habitat for wildlife. Contact Dan Sorem, watershed coordinator, at (641) 792-4116 or Dan.Sorem@ia.usda.gov for more information.

Local citizens can join the Rock Creek Lake Alliance, (RCLA), a non-profit organization, to enhance the recreational opportunities and environmental quality of Rock Creek Lake and the state park.

The RCLA continues to work to improve water quality at Rock Creek Lake, plus the organization has accomplished a variety of tasks including: installed a memorial bench on the trail; installed 80 campfire rings; provided 80 tons of rock for camp sites; seeded prairie area at south boat ramp; and participated with the DNR in prairie burns.

Although the RCLA has reached many goals, the organization still has many future plans to enhance the recreational opportunities and environmental quality in Jasper County. Future plans include: continue to restore the native prairie near the lake shore to help control sediment; develop the abandoned Two Bridges Nature Trail; seek funds for new shower floors and hand dryers in campground bathrooms; install more fire rings; and construct four all-season cabins.
Back to top

What is the future of Rock Creek Lake?
The future of Rock Creek Lake is bright if there are continued efforts for conservation practices. Rock Creek Lake is using technology such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to help improve communication with landowners. GIS use graphics and data to create maps that identify problems and evaluate possible solutions. GIS mapping links spatial data - the actual physical location of something - with attribute data, or information about that location. Improvements in technology and continued use of GIS will allow residents and visitors to Rock Creek Lake enjoy it all the more.
Back to top

Meet the project coordinator
Dan Sorem grew up in Garwin, Iowa and attended Iowa State University and majored in agronomy. Graduating in 2005, Sorem began work with soil and natural habitats. Sorem soon became the watershed coordinator at Rock Creek Lake.

Sorem enjoys the ability to get outdoors and to deal with the local farmers that are looking to improve the watershed.

For other ways you can get involved with the Rock Creek Lake Watershed Project, contact Dan Sorem, watershed coordinators, at (641) 792-4116 or Dan.Sorem@ia.usda.gov
Back to top

Project partners

• Iowa DNR
• Iowa Department of Agriculture - Division of Soil Conservation
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Jasper County Soil and Water Conservation District

For More Information
Local:
Dan Sorem
Rock Creek Lake Watershed Project Coordinator
(641) 792-4116
Dan.Sorem@ia.usda.gov
Jasper County NRCS Office

Statewide:
Steve Hopkins
DNR Watershed Improvement Program Grants Coordinator
(515) 281-6402
Stephen.Hopkins@dnr.iowa.gov