Benton County Lake Quality
Missouri, 1 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Benton County has 1 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. Benton County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
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. H.S. Truman Res. Nr. Dam Lake (C) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Benton County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for H.S. Truman Res. Nr. Dam Lake — or check the official Missouri fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Benton County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | H.S. Truman Res. Nr. Dam Lake | C | 3.8 ft | 38.7 µg/L |
Other Counties in Missouri
See how Benton County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 15 states.
Where to stay near Benton County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.