Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access is a 45-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in DeKalb County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in DeKalb County, Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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 | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 24.3 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
Where to stay near Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access
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 trip to Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Missouri’s top lakes →
Fishing Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
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 |
Water Temperature
Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in May (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2016–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 6 lakes in DeKalb County
Nearby Lakes in DeKalb County
Explore Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Buffalo Bill Dam (completed 1990), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the TRIB WEST FORK LOST CREEK; earth-type dam, 41 ft tall and 750 ft long.
- Surface area
- 45 ac
- Normal storage
- 271 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 271 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.13 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO12201 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.13 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Buffalo Bill Lake Nr. Access 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 · Matched by proximity (0.35 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
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)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-08-07
Monitoring stations: 1