Iron County Lake Quality
Missouri, 2 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Iron County has 2 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. The county-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.
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 Council Bluff Lake (A); the most-stressed is Shepard Mountain Lake Intake (D).
Quick Answers for Iron County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Council Bluff Lake — or check the official Missouri fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Iron County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Council Bluff Lake | A | 13.1 ft | 5.3 µg/L |
| 2 | Shepard Mountain Lake Intake | D | 2.8 ft | 37 µg/L |
Other Counties in Missouri
See how Iron 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 Iron County
Top-rated places to stay near Iron County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.