Bull Shoals Lake
Taney County, MissouriView mapDirections
Missouri DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Bull Shoals Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
Bull Shoals Lake in Taney County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L.
Bull Shoals Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Taney County, Missouri. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Bull Shoals Lake has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Bull Shoals Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Bull Shoals Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Bull Shoals 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 Bull Shoals Lake
These are the measurements Missouri DNR publishes for Bull Shoals Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.1 ft. Phosphorus 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4 µg/L. TSI 43.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 8.1ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 10µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 43 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Bull Shoals Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (62°F) to its warmest (87°F).
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
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Bull Shoals Lake
Prices for Oct 23–25, 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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Bull Shoals Lake → · more Missouri lake trips
Follow Bull Shoals Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing Bull Shoals Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Worsening5 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.65 µg/L/yr5 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.22 µg/L/yr5 years
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. Its water-quality measurements are published by Missouri DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Bull Shoals Lake?
- Bull Shoals Lake in Taney County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L.
Is Bull Shoals Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are 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.
Can I fish at Bull Shoals Lake?
- Bull Shoals Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Missouri's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Bull Shoals Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Table Rock & Branson Lakes area
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its readings
Missouri's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Missouri
Other Lakes in Missouri
Mesotrophic Lakes in Missouri
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)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory