Cameron Lake
DeKalb County, MissouriView mapDirections
Missouri DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Cameron Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- Public access
Ask about Cameron Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Cameron Lake in DeKalb County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 128.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 52.1 µg/L.
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Cameron Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cameron Lake in DeKalb 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Cameron Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Cameron Lake
Prices for Sep 18–20, 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 whole trip? See where to stay at Missouri’s top lakes →
Follow Cameron Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Cameron Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in DeKalb County, Missouri. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in DeKalb County, Cameron Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Cameron Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyAlgae risk
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. Cameron Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Cameron 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 Cameron Lake
These are the measurements Missouri DNR publishes for Cameron Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 128.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 52.1 µg/L. TSI 71.
| Metric | Value | EPA condition class |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | Measured, not scored |
| Phosphorus | 128.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 52.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Recreation & Access
- Cameron (Grindstone Lake)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Cameron Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.024 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +5.75 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.11 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Cameron Lake 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_7384.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.58 km)
Nearby Lakes in DeKalb County
Frequently asked questions about Cameron Lake
Where is Cameron Lake?
- Cameron Lake is a lake in DeKalb County, Missouri. Its water-quality measurements are published by Missouri DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Cameron Lake?
- Cameron Lake in DeKalb County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 128.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 52.1 µg/L.
Is Cameron Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Cameron Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Cameron Lake?
- Cameron Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cameron (Grindstone Lake). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cameron Lake across LakeQuality
More lakes in Missouri
Other Lakes in Missouri
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
48 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC45 samples · 2021–2024 - Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources
MDNR3 samples · 2023
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
- Nitrogen and Phosphorus, Total, Whole-water, Alkaline Persulfate Digest
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory