Ashland Lake
Boone County, Missouri29 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- #8 of 10 in the county
- Public access
Ashland Lake in Boone County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 92.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 43.6 µg/L. Surface area: 29 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.9 ft
- Typical in September
- 76°F
- Area
- 29 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Ashland Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ashland Lake in Boone County, Missouri — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Ashland Lake are listed below.
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Watch Ashland Lake’s letter
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Ashland Lake is a 29-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Boone County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Boone County, Ashland Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2023-08-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1.9 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 92.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 43.6 µg/L. TSI 68. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 92.2 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 43.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Ashland Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 82°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in Apr (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 31 field readings (2012–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ashland Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Ashland Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Ashland Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.045 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +11.25 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +3.55 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Ashland Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Ashland Wildlife Area Dam (completed 1937), built primarily for other on the BRUSHY CREEK; earth-type dam, 44 ft tall and 270 ft long.
- Surface area
- 29 ac
- Normal storage
- 429 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 429 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.87 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
All listed purposes: Other;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10036 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.04 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Ashland Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Adventures In Learning Childcare WwtpAshland · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MO0117366Recent violation
- Ashland WwtpAshland · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MO0106844Recent violation
- Columbia Regional Airport WwtfColumbia · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MO0092924Recent violation
- Ashland Christian Church WwtfAshland · 4.4 mi away · NPDES MO0129135
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 10 lakes in Boone County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Ashland Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Boone County
Frequently asked questions about Ashland Lake
Where is Ashland Lake?
- Ashland Lake is a lake in Boone County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Ashland Lake?
- Ashland Lake in Boone County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 92.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 43.6 µg/L. Surface area: 29 acres.
Is Ashland Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Ashland Lake?
- Ashland Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in September, from 31 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2012–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Ashland Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
69 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC68 samples · 2021–2023 - Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources
MDNR1 sample · 2021
Analytical methods
- Depth, Secchi disk in meters
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- Nitrogen and Phosphorus, Total, Whole-water, Alkaline Persulfate Digest
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)