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
Ask about Buffalo Bill Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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.
Stays via Stay22
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.
Top-rated places to stay near Buffalo Bill Lake
Prices for Sep 18–20, 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 →
Follow Buffalo Bill Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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.
| Metric | Value | EPA condition class |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 71.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 24.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Fishing Buffalo Bill Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.145 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.54 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.41 µg/L/yr | 3 |
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
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.
Explore Buffalo Bill Lake across LakeQuality
More lakes in Missouri
Other Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
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