Shelby County Lake Quality
Missouri, 2 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Only 2 lakes in Shelby 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-wide average grade is D — water quality issues are persistent across most of the monitored basins. 1 lakes fall into the F bracket outright.
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 Hunnewell Lake (D); the most-stressed is Shelbyville Lake (F).
Quick Answers for Shelby County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Hunnewell Lake — or check the official Missouri fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Shelby County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hunnewell Lake | D | 3.2 ft | 36 µg/L |
| 2 | Shelbyville Lake | F | 1 ft | 252.5 µg/L |
Other Counties in Missouri
See how Shelby 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 Shelby County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.