Alpine Lake is a 325-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Warren County, Missouri. Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Warren County, Alpine Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 12.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.6 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 7 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.5 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 325 acres |
Where to stay near Alpine Lake
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Fishing Alpine Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.15 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.75 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.07 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Water Temperature
Alpine Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in Apr (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 95 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Alpine Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 16 lakes in Warren County
Nearby Lakes in Warren County
Explore Alpine Lake across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Missouri's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Missouri
Jefferson County · Clarity: 12.9 ft
Audrain County · Clarity: 14.4 ft
Audrain County · Clarity: 14.1 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 14.3 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 11.1 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 16.3 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Alpine Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Alpine Lake Dam (completed 2000), built primarily for recreation on the CAVE CREEK; earth-type dam, 118 ft tall and 1,279 ft long.
- Surface area
- 325 ac
- Normal storage
- 10,266 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 14,260 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.99 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- INNSBROOK CORPORATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO32058 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Alpine Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Gateway Refrigerated WarehousesWarrenton · 3.4 mi away · NPDES MO0116459Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-09-14
Monitoring stations: 1