Cameron Lake Deep Site is a 21-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in DeKalb County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in DeKalb County, Cameron Lake Deep Site ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1.9 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 103 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 34.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.9 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 103 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 34.2 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Cameron Lake Deep Site
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Fishing Cameron Lake Deep Site
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.023 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.42 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.12 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Cameron Lake Deep Site averages about 82°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in Sep (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 41 field readings (2016–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cameron Lake Deep Site water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 6 lakes in DeKalb County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Cameron Lake Deep Site holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DPony Express LakeDeKalb County · 6.8 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DBuffalo Bill Lake Nr. AccessDeKalb County · 7.3 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DHamilton LakeCaldwell County · 12.2 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DLake ArrowheadClinton County · 19.6 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in DeKalb County
Explore Cameron Lake Deep Site across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Cameron Lake Deep Site is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Cameron City Reservoir #1 Dam (completed 1925), built primarily for water supply on the TRIBUTARY TO GRINDSTONE CREEK; earth-type dam, 36 ft tall and 550 ft long.
- Surface area
- 21 ac
- Normal storage
- 154 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 630 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.61 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF CAMERON
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10042 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.33 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Cameron Lake Deep Site is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MO_7120.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.66 km)
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 Cameron Lake Deep Site under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Cameron WwtpCameron · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MO0104299MajorRecent violation
- Rockwood Creek Mobile Home Village WwtfCameron · 3.5 mi away · NPDES MO0123960Recent violation
- Country Hills Estates WwtpCameron · 4 mi away · NPDES MO0132144Recent violation
- Durham School Services, LpCameron · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MONX00472
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2024-09-19
Monitoring stations: 4