Coot Lake
Jackson County, Missouri23 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #12 of 23 in the county
Coot Lake in Jackson County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 77.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 43.7 µg/L. Surface area: 23 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.6 ft
- Typical in September
- 80°F
- Area
- 23 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 77.2 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 43.7 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Stays near Coot Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Coot Lake in Jackson 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Coot Lake are listed below.
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Coot Lake is a 23-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Coot Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2023-10-03. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Coot Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 77.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 43.7 µg/L. TSI 68. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 77.2 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 43.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Coot Lake typically sits around 80°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 85°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 86°F) and coldest in Sep (about 80°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 17 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Coot Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 23 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Coot Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Coot Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | 0 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -13.75 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -7.55 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Coot Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Reed Area No 3 (completed 1958), built primarily for other on the TR BIG CREEK; earth-type dam, 34 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 23 ac
- Normal storage
- 140 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 418 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 225 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
All listed purposes: Other;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO20032 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.06 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Coot 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_7378.00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
8 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Coot Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Summit Mobile Home Community WwtfGreenwood · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MO0089931Recent violation
- Lee'S Summit Resource Recovery ParkLee'S Summit · 0.7 mi away · NPDES MO0110876
- Clarcor - Bha Altair LlcLee'S Summit · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MONX00267
- Parker - Hannifin CorporationLee'S Summit · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MONX00807
- Buckley Powder - Greenwood SiteGreenwood · 2 mi away · NPDES MONX00700
- Performance Foodservice MissouriLee'S Summit · 2 mi away · NPDES MONX00968
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 23 lakes in Jackson County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Coot Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Frequently asked questions about Coot Lake
Where is Coot Lake?
- Coot Lake is a lake in Jackson County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Coot Lake?
- Coot Lake in Jackson County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 77.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 43.7 µg/L. Surface area: 23 acres.
Is Coot Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Coot Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Coot Lake?
- Coot Lake typically sits around 80°F at the surface in September, from 17 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Coot Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Missouri's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
43 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC40 samples · 2021–2022 - Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources
MDNR3 samples · 2023
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
- Nitrogen and Phosphorus, Total, Whole-water, Alkaline Persulfate Digest
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)