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LakeQuality

Long Branch L. Lake vs Thomas Hill Res. Nr. Dam Lake

Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.

Long Branch L. Lake has a higher water quality grade (C, Fair) than Thomas Hill Res. Nr. Dam Lake (D, Poor). Both are in Missouri.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

Long Branch L. Lake and Thomas Hill Res. Nr. Dam Lake are both in Missouri — a same-state head-to-head where the comparison comes down to lake-specific differences in depth, watershed, and monitoring history rather than the broader state-level water-quality regime. The grades are close: Long Branch L. Lake (C) and Thomas Hill Res. Nr. Dam Lake (D) are within one letter of each other on the LakeGrade rubric. The per-parameter sub-grades below will show where the small differences actually live.

With grades this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.

C

Long Branch L. Lake

Macon County, Missouri

No clarity data.

D

Thomas Hill Res. Nr. Dam Lake

Randolph County, Missouri

Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility.

Side-by-Side Metrics

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.

MetricLong Branch L. LakeThomas Hill Res. Nr. Dam Lake
Overall GradeC (Fair)D (Poor)
Water ClarityNo data2.3 ft
Phosphorus36 µg/L61 µg/L
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data14.2 µg/L
Maximum Depth--
Surface Area2,430 acres3,500 acres
Public AccessUnknownYes
Fish Species00
Trophic Stateeutrophiceutrophic

Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).

Verdict

Long Branch L. Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade C versus Thomas Hill Res. Nr. Dam Lake's Grade D. For fishing diversity, Long Branch L. Lake also leads with 0 species.