Blue Valley Lake
Jackson County, MissouriView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #8 of 23 in the county
- Limited data
Blue Valley Lake in Jackson County, Missouri has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 56 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.7 µg/L.
- Typical in August
- 79°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 56 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 28.7 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Blue Valley Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Blue Valley 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Blue Valley Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Blue Valley Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 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 →
Watch Blue Valley Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Blue Valley Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Blue Valley Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Blue Valley Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 10 samples across 4 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Missouri’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 56 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 28.7 µg/L. TSI 63. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 56 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Blue Valley Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 81°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in May (about 73°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 38 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Blue Valley Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Blue Valley Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +5.65 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +12.14 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
21 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Blue Valley Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 5 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 9 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Ross Custom PropertiesKansas City · 2.2 mi away · NPDES MO0004952MajorRecent violation
- Bayer Cropscience LpKansas City · 3.6 mi away · NPDES MO0002526MajorRecent violation
- Independence Rock Creek WwtpIndependence · 3.8 mi away · NPDES MO0089681MajorRecent violation
- Conservation Chemical Company GwtfKansas City · 4.2 mi away · NPDES MO0108472MajorRecent violation
- Hawthorn Generating StationKansas City · 4.2 mi away · NPDES MO0004855MajorRecent violation
- Former Koppers FacilityKansas City · 1.4 mi away · NPDES MO0120294Recent 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 23 lakes in Jackson County
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Frequently asked questions about Blue Valley Lake
Where is Blue Valley Lake?
- Blue Valley Lake is a lake in Jackson County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Blue Valley Lake?
- Blue Valley Lake in Jackson County, Missouri has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 56 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.7 µg/L.
Is Blue Valley Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Blue Valley Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 10 samples across 4 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Blue Valley Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Missouri's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Blue Valley Lake?
- Blue Valley Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August, from 38 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Blue Valley Lake across LakeQuality
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
28 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- EPA R7
EPA_R7_WQX28 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Nutrient Analysis
- Chlorophyll a
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- Total Nitrogen Calculation
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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)