Blue Springs L. Nr. Dam Lake is a 722-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 26 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Blue Springs L. Nr. Dam Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2023-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 32.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 27.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 32.3 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 27.4 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 722 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Blue Springs L. Nr. Dam Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Blue Springs L. Nr. Dam Lake in Jackson 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.
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Fishing Blue Springs L. Nr. Dam Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.045 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.35 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -7.3 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Current Conditions
Latest reading Jul 6, 2026, 4:45 AM from USGS gauge 06893885. See live data ↗ — readings update every 15–60 minutes; this page refreshes on each build.
Water Temperature
Blue Springs L. Nr. Dam Lake averages about 83°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 86°F) and coldest in Apr (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 75 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Blue Springs L. Nr. Dam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 27 lakes in Jackson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Blue Springs L. Nr. Dam Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CJacomo LakeJackson County · 2.2 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CLotawana Lk. LakeJackson County · 7.3 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- DPrairie Lee Lake Nr. DamJackson County · 4.9 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Explore Blue Springs L. Nr. Dam Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Compare Blue Springs L. Nr. Dam Lake With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Blue Springs L. Nr. Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Blue Springs Dam (completed 1988), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the EAST FORK LITTLE BLUE RIVER; rockfill-type dam, 70 ft tall and 2,500 ft long.
- Surface area
- 722 ac
- Normal storage
- 10,842 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 26,950 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 32.8 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Kansas City District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Other;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO12099 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.21 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Blue Springs L. Nr. Dam Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Independence MhpBlue Springs · 1.1 mi away · NPDES MO0044351Recent 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)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2023-09-19
Monitoring stations: 1