Callaway Fork Lake is a 154-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Charles County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 10 other monitored lakes in St. Charles County, Callaway Fork Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-06-07. 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 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 39.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 39.5 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.5 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 154 acres |
Where to stay near Callaway Fork Lake
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Fishing Callaway Fork Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.1 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.17 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +4.22 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 11 lakes in St. Charles County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Callaway Fork Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →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
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Callaway Fork Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Callaway Forks Dam (completed 1981), built primarily for recreation on the CALLAWAY FORK; earth-type dam, 80 ft tall and 600 ft long.
- Surface area
- 154 ac
- Normal storage
- 5,136 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,136 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 12.67 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CALLAWAY LAKE OWNERS ASSN.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO31845 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.09 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-06-07
Monitoring stations: 1