Buffalo Bill Lake
DeKalb County, MissouriView mapDirections
Missouri DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Buffalo Bill Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- Limited data
Buffalo Bill Lake in DeKalb County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 71.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.3 µg/L.
Buffalo Bill Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in DeKalb County, Missouri. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in DeKalb County, Buffalo Bill Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-07. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Buffalo Bill Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Buffalo Bill Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Buffalo Bill Lake
These are the measurements Missouri DNR publishes for Buffalo Bill Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 71.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 24.3 µg/L. TSI 64.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 71.3µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 24.3µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 64 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Stays near Buffalo Bill Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Buffalo Bill Lake in DeKalb 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Buffalo Bill Lake are listed below.
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Fishing Buffalo Bill Lake
Water quality readings over time
3 seasons of samples on record (2021–2024). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Worsening2 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+3.54 µg/L/yr3 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-5.41 µg/L/yr3 years
EPA Impairment Status
Buffalo Bill Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MO_7117.00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in DeKalb County
Frequently asked questions about Buffalo Bill Lake
Where is Buffalo Bill Lake?
- Buffalo Bill Lake is a lake in DeKalb County, Missouri. Its water-quality measurements are published by Missouri DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Buffalo Bill Lake?
- Buffalo Bill Lake in DeKalb County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 71.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.3 µg/L.
Is Buffalo Bill Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Buffalo Bill Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
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Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC8 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database