Clearwater Lake is a 1,630-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Reynolds County, Missouri. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Reynolds County, Clearwater Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Clearwater Lake Water Quality Report Card (2026)
A printable one-page report card for Clearwater Lake: grade, clarity, phosphorus, algae, multi-year trend, depth, and fish — with sources.
Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Very murky, less than 1.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 31.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.8 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 31.3 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.8 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,630 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Clearwater Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Clearwater Lake in Reynolds 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.
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Fishing Clearwater Lake
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: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.037 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.15 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.37 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Recreation & Access
Current Conditions
Latest reading Jul 6, 2026, 4:30 AM from USGS gauge 07062000. See live data ↗ — readings update every 15–60 minutes; this page refreshes on each build.
Water Temperature
Clearwater Lake averages about 82°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°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 64 field readings (2012–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Clearwater Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Reynolds County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Clearwater Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BClearwater Lake Nr. DamWayne County · 2 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
- CClearwater LakeReynolds County · 1.3 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Reynolds County
Explore Clearwater Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Missouri
Wayne County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
Jefferson County · Clarity: 5.4 ft
Phelps County · Clarity: 4.9 ft
Phelps County · Clarity: 8.6 ft
Franklin County · Clarity: 3.6 ft
Franklin County · Clarity: 6.1 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Compare Clearwater Lake With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Clearwater Lake 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
EPA Impairment Status
Clearwater 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_7326.00 · 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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2024-09-02
Monitoring stations: 1