Binder Lake
Cole County, Missouri138 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 23 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Binder Lake in Cole County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 32.1 µg/L. Surface area: 138 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Typical in September
- 79°F
- Max depth
- ~23 ft est.
- Area
- 138 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 54.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 32.1 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Binder Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Binder Lake in Cole 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 Binder Lake are listed below.
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Binder Lake is a 138-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Cole County, Missouri with an estimated average depth of about 23 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2021-07-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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. Binder Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 54.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 32.1 µg/L. TSI 64. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 54.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 32.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Binder Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 85°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 85°F) and coldest in Apr (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 59 field readings (2012–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Binder Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~23 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~16 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 138 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Missouri has not published bathymetry for Binder Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Binder Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.07 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -6.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +66.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Binder Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Binder Community Lake Dam (completed 1966), built primarily for recreation on the DICKERSON CR; earth-type dam, 48 ft tall and 1,200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 138 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,312 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,312 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6.2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30051 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.11 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Binder Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MO_7185.00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
8 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Binder Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Saddlebrooke Lake WwtpLohman · 4 mi away · NPDES MO0127353Recent violation
- Cardwell HardwoodsJefferson City · 1.4 mi away · NPDES MONX01020
- St. Martins Knights Of Columbus WwtfJefferson City · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MO0129372
- Porite Jefferson CorporationJefferson City · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MONX00396
- Mawc Anderson Lake LagoonJefferson City · 4.2 mi away · NPDES MO0121410
- Mawc Sunny Brook WwtpJefferson City · 4.5 mi away · NPDES MO0105759
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 #1 of 1 lakes in Cole County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Binder 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.
Nearby Lakes in Cole County
Frequently asked questions about Binder Lake
Where is Binder Lake?
- Binder Lake is a lake in Cole County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Binder Lake?
- Binder Lake in Cole County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 32.1 µg/L. Surface area: 138 acres.
Is Binder Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Binder Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Binder Lake?
- Binder Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in September, from 59 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2012–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Binder Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Binder Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 23 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 138 acres.
Explore Binder 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
24 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC21 samples · 2020 - Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources
MDNR3 samples · 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)