Callaway Fork Lake
St. Charles County, MissouriView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- #4 of 6 in the county
- Limited data
Callaway Fork Lake in St. Charles County, Missouri has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 78.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.1 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 78.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 18.1 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Callaway Fork Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Callaway Fork Lake in St. Charles 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Callaway Fork Lake are listed below.
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Callaway Fork Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Charles County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in St. Charles County, Callaway Fork Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2021-07-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 78.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 18.1 µg/L. TSI 64. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 78.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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 |
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 6 lakes in St. Charles County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Callaway Fork Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in St. Charles County
Frequently asked questions about Callaway Fork Lake
Where is Callaway Fork Lake?
- Callaway Fork Lake is a lake in St. Charles County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Callaway Fork Lake?
- Callaway Fork Lake in St. Charles County, Missouri has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 78.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.1 µg/L.
Is Callaway Fork Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Callaway Fork Lake across LakeQuality
Planning a trip around Gateway Arch?
Callaway Fork Lake is about 37 miles from Gateway Arch National Park. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Gateway Arch →More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC21 samples · 2020–2021
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)