In 2004, Iowa listed Easter Lake for murky water. 20 years later, restoration helped it meet water standards and park visits climbed from 500,000 to 1.3 million visitors

Easter Lake in Des Moines was listed as impaired in 2004 because sediment and cloudy water were damaging its quality. Two decades of restoration changed the picture. Crews removed sediment and improved the surrounding watershed with wetlands, rain gardens and other projects. By 2024, Iowa reported that the lake’s designated uses were fully supported. Meanwhile, annual park visits rose from fewer than 500,000 to more than 1.4 million.