Barton County Lake Quality
Missouri, 6 lakes, average grade F (Very Poor)
Only 6 lakes in Barton 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.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Lamar City Lk. South Arm Lake (F); the most-stressed is Lamar City Lk. Nr. Upper End Lake (F).
Quick Answers for Barton County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Lamar City Lk. South Arm Lake — or check the official Missouri fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Barton County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamar City Lk. South Arm Lake | F | 2.1 ft | 80.4 µg/L |
| 2 | Lamar City Lk. East Arm Lake | F | 1.9 ft | 72.3 µg/L |
| 3 | Lamar City Lk. Nr. Dam Lake | F | 2 ft | 66 µg/L |
| 4 | Lamar City Lk. Up Northern Arm Lake | F | 1.8 ft | 78 µg/L |
| 5 | Lamar City Lk. Nr. Upper End Lake | F | 1.8 ft | 105.7 µg/L |
Other Counties in Missouri
See how Barton County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 15 states.
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.