Clay County Lake Quality
Kansas, 5 lakes, average grade F (Very Poor)
Only 5 lakes in Clay County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. The county average is F — the most-stressed bracket in our rubric. Most monitored lakes here show persistent nutrient loading and algal pressure.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Milford Lake (D) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Clay County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Milford Lake — or check the official Kansas fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Clay County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milford Lake | D | 1.5 ft | 540 µg/L |
| 2 | Milford Lake Sugar Bowl | F | 0.4 ft | 2790 µg/L |
| 3 | Wakefield Boat Ramp Milford Lake | F | - | - |
| 4 | North Lake | F | - | - |
| 5 | Timber C Boat Ramp Milford Lake | F | - | - |
Other Counties in Kansas
See how Clay County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 34 states.
Where to stay near Clay County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.