Callaway Fork Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Charles County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 10 other monitored lakes in St. Charles County, Callaway Fork Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2021-07-26. 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
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 78.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 18.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 78.5 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.1 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Callaway Fork Lake
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Fishing Callaway Fork Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.09 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 11 lakes in St. Charles County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Callaway Fork Lake holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BSherwood LakeWarren County · 5.7 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- DCallaway Fork LakeSt. Charles County · 1.5 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DLake EleanorWarren County · 5.7 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DLake EleanorWarren County · 5.7 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DSugar Hollow LakeWarren County · 5.9 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in St. Charles County
Explore Callaway Fork Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Callaway Fork Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Sccpwsd #2 New Melle WwtpNew Melle · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MO0115461Recent violation
- Sccpwsd #2 Sycamore Creek WwtpNew Melle · 2 mi away · NPDES MO0128252Recent violation
- Fiddlestix WwtpNew Melle · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MO0119890Recent violation
- Quarry Wine Garden WwtpNew Melle · 2.8 mi away · NPDES MO0139068Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2021-07-26
Monitoring stations: 1