OXFORD – Kent Park Lake, a well-known and popular recreation area for fishing and swimming in Johnson County, is set to enjoy a brighter and cleaner future thanks to a community-led initiative.
The lake was added to Iowa’s impaired waters list in 2004 due to poor water quality caused by increased nutrient and sediment runoff. These issues negatively impacted the lake's aesthetics and harmed fish and other aquatic life by reducing visibility from algae blooms and murky water.
Kent Park, which opened in 1970, encompasses two-thirds of the 673-acre watershed, with the remaining area primarily used for agricultural purposes, including row crops and pasture. High levels of algae created hazardous conditions due to cyanobacteria, which can produce cyanotoxins. These toxins can cause serious illness or even death in pets, livestock, and wildlife. Additionally, they can make people sick, leading to symptoms such as red, raised rashes or irritation of the skin, ears, and eyes.
Phosphorus pollution from the watershed was a primary driver of these algal blooms, so reducing the delivery of phosphorus and sediment to the lake was essential for improving water quality.
"Kent Park Lake is a popular recreational destination for the surrounding communities of Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, so improving the water quality was vital for the community," says Brad Friedhof, Johnson County Conservation Director.
In 2014, planning commenced to develop a watershed plan aimed at addressing phosphorus loading sources to Kent Park Lake and exploring future in-lake projects to enhance water quality. In 2016, work had started on renovating six existing sediment basins within the park, as well as constructing six new structures designed to capture phosphorus and sediment before they could enter the lake. The restored basins were dredged and replanted with vegetation, and a dike was built at the northern inlet of the lake to reduce sediment runoff.
Funding from the Eastern Iowa Airport supported the purchase of land that had been overused for cattle grazing and was draining directly into the lake. In 2017, the lake was drawn down to allow for dredging and the installation of fish habitats. More than 12,000 dump truck loads of sediment were removed from the lake, increasing its depth by six feet.
Sections of the shoreline were armored, over 30,000 aquatic plants were introduced, and an accessible fishing pier was constructed. Additional efforts in the park centered on improving timber stands and restoring native prairie.
The watershed project has significantly improved the water quality in the lake, resulting in enhanced clarity and better habitat conditions for fish and other aquatic species, as well as for human users. Due to these improvements, Kent Park Lake was removed from the impaired waters list in 2024.
“This watershed project demonstrates what can be achieved through vision and hard work. The removal of Kent Park Lake from the impaired waters list is a direct result of this community-led effort, which has led to improved conditions for both aquatic species and human users," says Jennifer Kurth, DNR aquatic biologist.
The Kent Park Lake Watershed Project was funded and supported by the Iowa DNR Lake Restoration Program, Johnson County Conservation, and the Eastern Iowa Airport.
To learn more about the Kent Park Lake success story, go to:
You can also find more Iowa success stories on the EPA's website at:
https://www.epa.gov/nps/success-stories-about-restoring-water-bodies-impaired-nonpoint-source-pollution#ia and clicking on the Iowa map.