Bull Shoals Lake
Taney County, MissouriView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #2 of 9 in the county
- Public access
Bull Shoals Lake in Taney County, Missouri has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 8.1 ft
- Typical in September
- 81°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 4 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Bull Shoals Lake’s letter
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Bull Shoals Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Taney County, Missouri. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Taney County, Bull Shoals Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Bull Shoals Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.1 ft. Phosphorus 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4 µg/L. TSI 43. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Bull Shoals Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 85°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 87°F) and coldest in Apr (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 80 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bull Shoals Lake water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Buck Creek ParkPublic
- Highway 125 MarinaSemi-private
- Dock RoadSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Bull Shoals Lake
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 |
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 9 lakes in Taney County
Nearby Lakes in Taney County
Frequently asked questions about Bull Shoals Lake
Where is Bull Shoals Lake?
- Bull Shoals Lake is a lake in Taney County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Bull Shoals Lake?
- Bull Shoals Lake in Taney County, Missouri has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L.
Is Bull Shoals Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Bull Shoals Lake?
- Bull Shoals Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in September, from 80 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Bull Shoals Lake?
- Bull Shoals Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Buck Creek Park, Highway 125 Marina, Dock Road. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bull Shoals Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade A Lakes in Missouri
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Where this data comes from
92 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC92 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Depth, Secchi disk in meters
- 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 from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory