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. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Reynolds County, Clearwater Lake ranks #1 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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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 20.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 20.3 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.9 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,630 acres |
Where to stay near Clearwater Lake
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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: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.085 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.8 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.16 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Water Temperature
Clearwater Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Apr (about 59°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.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Reynolds County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Clearwater Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →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
Most recent sample: 2024-09-02
Monitoring stations: 1