Blind Pony Lake is a 95-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Saline County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Saline County, Blind Pony Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Blind Pony Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 63.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 38.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 63.7 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 38.4 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 95 acres |
Where to stay near Blind Pony Lake
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Fishing Blind Pony Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.025 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +7.7 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.07 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Blind Pony Lake averages about 82°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in May (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 60 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Blind Pony Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Saline County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Blind Pony Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BLake ButeoJohnson County · 22.7 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- DHazel Hill Lake by DamJohnson County · 25.5 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Saline County
Explore Blind Pony Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Lafayette County · Clarity: 1.8 ft
Lafayette County · Clarity: 1.6 ft
Pettis County · Clarity: 1.4 ft
Chariton County · Clarity: 1.5 ft
Johnson County · Clarity: 2 ft
Linn County · Clarity: 1.9 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Blind Pony Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Blind Pony Dam (completed 1968), built primarily for recreation on the PONY CREEK; earth-type dam, 35 ft tall and 2,300 ft long.
- Surface area
- 95 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,812 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 5.05 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO20041 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Blind Pony 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_7189.00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-08-06
Monitoring stations: 2