Catclaw Lake is a 43-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 26 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Catclaw Lake ranks #26 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2023-10-03. 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
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 164 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 78.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 164 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 78 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
Where to stay near Catclaw Lake
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Fishing Catclaw Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.039 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +12.62 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5.57 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #26 of 27 lakes in Jackson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Catclaw Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CLotawana Lk. LakeJackson County · 4.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DPrairie Lee Lake Nr. DamJackson County · 3.8 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- FCottontail LakeJackson County · 0.4 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- FCoot LakeJackson County · 1.9 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- FRaintree LakeCass County · 5.2 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
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Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Catclaw Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Catclaw Lake Dam (completed 1966), built primarily for recreation on the TR-BIG CREEK; earth-type dam, 31 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 43 ac
- Normal storage
- 425 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 713 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 450 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO20024 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Catclaw 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_7374.00 · Official waterbody report
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-10-03
Monitoring stations: 1