Cedar Lake is a 21-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Boone County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Boone County, Cedar Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-02. 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 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 98 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 30.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 98 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 30.8 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
Where to stay near Cedar Lake
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Fishing Cedar Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.36 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +15.5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.35 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Cedar Lake averages about 84°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 86°F) and coldest in Apr (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2016–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cedar Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 12 lakes in Boone County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Cedar Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BLake of the WoodsBoone County · 8 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- CBethel LakeBoone County · 0.7 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CQuarry Heights LakeBoone County · 3.2 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CPhillips LakeBoone County · 3.2 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DStephens LakeBoone County · 4.5 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Boone County
Explore Cedar Lake 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)
Cedar Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Cedar Lake Dam (completed 1975), built primarily for recreation on the TR-LITTLE BONNE FEMME CREEK; earth-type dam, 42 ft tall and 600 ft long.
- Surface area
- 21 ac
- Normal storage
- 188 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 302 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.83 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CEDAR LAKE HOA
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO11058 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Cedar 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_7199.00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
15 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Cedar Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 6 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Columbia WwtpColumbia · 4.8 mi away · NPDES MO0097837MajorRecent violation
- Stanley SubdivisionColumbia · 0.7 mi away · NPDES MO0105996Recent violation
- Wiley ApartmentsColumbia · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MO0106011Recent violation
- Cornell'S Friendly Acres WwtfColumbia · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MO0088200Recent violation
- Bcrsd, Springpark SubdivisionColumbia · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MO0100463Recent violation
- Bcrsd Brookfield Estates WwtpColumbia · 3.5 mi away · NPDES MO0126624Recent 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.
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)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-08-02
Monitoring stations: 1