Official State of Iowa Website Here is how you know

Des Moines Water Works Recharge Basins

General Information

County: Polk
Location: George Flagg Pkwy. Des Moines
Acres: 35.00
Maximum Depth:
Motoring Restrictions:

Nearby Parks

Walnut Woods State Park

Amenities

Amenities at Des Moines Water Works Recharge Basins include:
  • Picnic Area
  • Trails
  • Restrooms
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Community Fishing Location
No recent updates

You can zoom in on the map for bathymetric information for some lakes

  • 06/04/2020 - 1,001 Channel Catfish (1.8)
  • 10/02/2019 - 500 Channel Catfish (9.3)
  • 9/18/2017 - 480 Channel Catfish (8.2")
  • 10/02/2015 - 2,502 Channel Catfish (8")
    No known aquatic invasive species have been found
The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • Bluegill
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: No daily limit on private waters
  • Channel Catfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Common Carp
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
  • Freshwater Drum
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
  • Largemouth Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
    • Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
    • Other:
Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.

Contacts

Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

The vast majority of Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe and high-quality fish that pose little or no threat to human health if consumed. Some limitations may apply for young children and pregnant women. Here’s a Fish Consumption Fact Sheet from the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Dept. of Public Health for more information. Here is a list of current fish consumption advisories for Iowa lakes and rivers.