Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam is a 1,630-acre mesotrophic lake in Wayne County, Missouri. Water quality is graded B based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Wayne County, Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2025-07-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Murky, only visible to about 5.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 15.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.7 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 15.7 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.7 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,630 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam
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Fishing Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.028 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.07 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.66 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam averages about 83°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in Apr (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 126 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Wayne County
Nearby Lakes in Wayne County
Explore Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Missouri
Mesotrophic Lakes in Missouri
Compare Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Clearwater Dam (completed 1942), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the BLACK; earth-type dam, 155 ft tall and 4,225 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,630 ac
- Normal storage
- 22,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 413,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 898 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Little Rock District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30203 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.4 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Piedmont WwtfPiedmont · 3.8 mi away · NPDES MO0047341MajorRecent violation
- Today'S Food, LlcPiedmont · 3.5 mi away · NPDES MO0123552
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2025-07-30
Monitoring stations: 2