Wayne County Lake Quality
Missouri, 4 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Wayne County has 4 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. Wayne 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. Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam (B) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Wayne County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam — or check the official Missouri fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Wayne County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam | B | 5.7 ft | 15.7 µg/L |
| 2 | Lake Wappapello Lost Cr. Arm @ Sanderson Pt Bottom | C | 2.3 ft | 24.8 µg/L |
| 3 | Lake Wappapello Nr. Dam | D | 1.8 ft | 50.7 µg/L |
| 4 | Lake Wappapello,Lost Cr. Arm @Sanderson Pt. | D | 1.3 ft | 43 µg/L |
Other Counties in Missouri
See how Wayne 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 Wayne County
Top-rated places to stay near Wayne County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.