DeKalb County, Missouri · Water Quality Report Card
Buffalo Bill Lake
Buffalo Bill Lake in DeKalb County, Missouri has a water quality grade of D (Poor). Phosphorus: 71.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.3 µg/L.
- Mean depth
- ~10 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Buffalo Bill Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in DeKalb County, Missouri with an estimated average depth of about 10 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. 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: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D (Poor)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 71.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 24.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| 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
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~10 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Missouri has not published bathymetry for Buffalo Bill Lake.
Where to stay near Buffalo Bill Lake
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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 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 5 lakes in DeKalb County
Nearby Lakes in DeKalb County
Explore Buffalo Bill Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
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
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
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)
Grade thresholds come from the U.S. EPA National Lakes Assessment 2022 Technical Support Document (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion
Most recent sample: 2024-08-07
Monitoring stations: 1