Bethel Lake
Boone County, MissouriView mapDirections
Missouri DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Bethel Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
Bethel Lake in Boone County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.5 µg/L.
Bethel Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Boone County, Missouri. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Boone County, Bethel Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-07-19. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Bethel Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Bethel Lake
These are the measurements Missouri DNR publishes for Bethel Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 32.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 9.5 µg/L. TSI 58.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 32.7µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 9.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 58 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Bethel Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Bethel Lake typically sits around 83°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 83°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in May (about 75°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (75°F) to its warmest (84°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2022–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bethel Lake water temperature breakdown →
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Bethel Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bethel 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Bethel Lake
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Missouri’s top lakes →
Follow Bethel Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing Bethel Lake
Water quality readings over time
3 seasons of samples on record (2022–2024). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving2 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+15.5 µg/L/yr3 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.35 µg/L/yr3 years
Nearby Lakes in Boone County
Frequently asked questions about Bethel Lake
Where is Bethel Lake?
- Bethel Lake is a lake in Boone County, Missouri. Its water-quality measurements are published by Missouri DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Bethel Lake?
- Bethel Lake in Boone County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.5 µg/L.
Is Bethel Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Bethel Lake?
- Bethel Lake typically sits around 83°F at the surface in August, from 14 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Bethel Lake across LakeQuality
More lakes in Missouri
Other Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
46 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC46 samples · 2022–2024
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
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.