Development upstream affects water quality in Hoover Creek. Land uses within the watershed include active development for new residential and business zones, agricultural lands, a golf course, and residential housing. Water quality concerns center around siltation from soil erosion, and levels of nitrate and coliform bacteria.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site strives to be a good steward of all resources on site, even the water that has poor water quality when entering the park. Water quality in Hoover Creek improves as the stream moves through the National Historic Site. Coliform bacteria levels rise above safe levels as the stream enters the park, but fall to much lower levels by the time the stream leaves the park.

Park managers hope that better watershed planning will improve water quality, flooding, and erosion problems.

Monitoring Water Quality on Hoover Creek as it Flows Into Herbert Hoover NHS (PDF file, 228 KB), prepared by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, describes trends in water quality.

Volunteers sample water quality at Hoover Creek in Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. The sample site is number 916066 in the IOWATER database.