Cedar Lake
Randolph County, MissouriView mapDirections
Missouri DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Cedar Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
Cedar Lake in Randolph County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 51.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.4 µg/L.
Cedar Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Randolph County, Missouri. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Randolph County, Cedar Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate algae
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Cedar 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 Cedar Lake
These are the measurements Missouri DNR publishes for Cedar 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 2.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 51.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 12.4 µg/L. TSI 60.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 51.8µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 12.4µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 60 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Cedar Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Cedar Lake typically sits around 80°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 83°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 86°F) and coldest in Apr (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (66°F) to its warmest (86°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 15 field readings (2023–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cedar Lake water temperature breakdown →
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Stays near Cedar Lake
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Fishing Cedar Lake
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2023–2024). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Worsening2 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+46 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+22.4 µg/L/yr2 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 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. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Moberly WwtpMoberly · 3.6 mi away · NPDES MO0117960MajorRecent violation
- Moberly Correctional Center WwtfMoberly · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MO0053937Recent violation
- Renick WwtfRenick · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MO0104019Recent violation
- Moberly WwtpMoberly · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MO0028827
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.
Nearby Lakes in Randolph County
Frequently asked questions about Cedar Lake
Where is Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake is a lake in Randolph County, Missouri. Its water-quality measurements are published by Missouri DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake in Randolph County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 51.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.4 µg/L.
Is Cedar Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. 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 15 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Cedar Lake across LakeQuality
More lakes in Missouri
Other Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
45 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
UMC45 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)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)