What is the water quality grade for Bull Shoals Lake?

Bull Shoals Lake in Taney County, Missouri received a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L.

Is Bull Shoals Lake safe to swim in?

Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Bull Shoals Lake has an overall water quality grade of B. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

Taney County, Missouri

Bull Shoals Lake

Grade BGood · 8.1 ft clarity

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Mesotrophic

Bull Shoals Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Taney County, Missouri. Water quality is graded B based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 10 other monitored lakes in Taney County, Bull Shoals Lake ranks #5 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels

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Water Quality Grade: B, Good

Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.

Metric	Value	Grade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)	8.1 ft	C
Phosphorus	10 µg/L	A
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)	4 µg/L	A
Trophic State Index (TSI)	43	Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Where to stay near Bull Shoals Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bull Shoals Lake in Taney 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.

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Fishing Bull Shoals Lake

→ Bull Shoals Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining

Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

Metric	Trend	Change/Year	Years
Water Clarity	↓ Declining	-0.302 m/yr	5
Phosphorus	↓ Declining	+0.65 µg/L/yr	5
Chlorophyll-a	↓ Declining	+0.22 µg/L/yr	5

See year-by-year chart →

Water Temperature

Bull Shoals Lake averages about 85°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 87°F) and coldest in Apr (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.