Bowling Green Lake is a 45-acre mesotrophic lake in Pike County, Missouri. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Bowling Green Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 24.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 24.6 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.1 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Bowling Green Lake
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Fishing Bowling Green Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.091 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.79 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.85 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Bowling Green Lake averages about 79°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in Apr (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 100 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bowling Green Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Pike County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Bowling Green Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Pike County
Explore Bowling Green Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Missouri
Lincoln County · Clarity: 3.3 ft
Ralls County · Clarity: 3.7 ft
Warren County · Clarity: 5.2 ft
Ralls County · Clarity: 3.8 ft
Warren County · Clarity: 3.3 ft
Warren County · Clarity: 3.8 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Bowling Green Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Bowling Green Dam #1 (completed 1954), built primarily for water supply on the TRIBUTARY TO NOIX CREEK; earth-type dam, 73 ft tall and 660 ft long.
- Surface area
- 45 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,410 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,734 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.27 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10262 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.04 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Bowling Green 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_7003.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.84 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
6 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Bowling Green Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Cozy C Campground And Rv WwtfBowling Green · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MO0118257Recent violation
- Lazy Acres Subdivision WwtpBowling Green · 4.2 mi away · NPDES MO0129984Recent violation
- Ameren Missouri - Peno Creek Energy CtrBowling Green · 4.4 mi away · NPDES MO0127710Recent violation
- Northeast Correctional Center WwtfBowling Green · 4.6 mi away · NPDES MO0118966Recent violation
- United Parcel Service - Bowling GreenBowling Green · 3 mi away · NPDES MONX00678
- Ups Bowling GreenBowling Green · 3 mi away · NPDES MONX00896
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2024-08-12
Monitoring stations: 1