Cole Lake is a 42-acre mesotrophic lake in Jefferson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded B based on 3 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Jefferson County, Cole Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2020-11-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Cole Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Crystal clear, you can see 18.5 ft down. Phosphorus level: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 16.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18.5 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | 17 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 16.5 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
Where to stay near Cole Lake
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Fishing Cole Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 7 lakes in Jefferson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Cole Lake holds Grade B. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ALake CapriSt. Francois County · 9 mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- ATimberline LakesSt. Francois County · 2.3 mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- ALake Marseilles-Terre du Lac LakesSt. Francois County · 9 mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- ALake Shayne-Terre du Lac LakesWashington County · 9.4 mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- AGoose Creek LakeSte. Genevieve County · 13.5 mi · Higher grade (B → A)
Nearby Lakes in Jefferson County
Explore Cole Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Missouri
Franklin County · Clarity: 5.9 ft
Perry County · Clarity: 7.4 ft
Perry County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Warren County · Clarity: 4.9 ft
Warren County · Clarity: 5.9 ft
Warren County · Clarity: 5 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Cole Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Coles Lake Dam (completed 1948), built primarily for recreation on the TR TIFF CREEK; earth-type dam, 37 ft tall and 1,370 ft long.
- Surface area
- 42 ac
- Normal storage
- 445 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 605 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.21 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- TRUSTEES OF COLE LAKE
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30440 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.11 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 Cole Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Sunrise R-9 Elementary School WwtpDe Soto · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MO0092762Recent violation
- Valle Lake Sewer District WwtpDe Soto · 3.8 mi away · NPDES MO0100749Recent 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.
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
Most recent sample: 2020-11-07
Monitoring stations: 1