Cedar Lake
Boone County, Missouri21 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #10 of 10 in the county
Cedar Lake in Boone County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 98 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 30.8 µg/L. Surface area: 21 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Typical in September
- 80°F
- Area
- 21 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 98 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 30.8 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Stays near Cedar Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cedar Lake in Boone 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 Cedar Lake are listed below.
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Cedar Lake is a 21-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Boone County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Boone County, Cedar Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-02. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Cedar Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 98 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 30.8 µg/L. TSI 67. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 98 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 30.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Cedar Lake typically sits around 80°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 84°F. 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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Cedar Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
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 |
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 10 lakes in Boone County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Cedar Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Boone County
Frequently asked questions about Cedar Lake
Where is Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake is a lake in Boone County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake in Boone County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 98 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 30.8 µg/L. Surface area: 21 acres.
Is Cedar Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Cedar Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake typically sits around 80°F at the surface in September, from 25 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Cedar Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
28 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC28 samples · 2023–2024
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)