Coot Lake is a 23-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 26 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Coot Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2023-10-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 77.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 43.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 77.2 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 43.7 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 23 acres |
Where to stay near Coot Lake
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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 |
Water Temperature
Coot Lake averages about 85°F at the surface in summer, 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 →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 27 lakes in Jackson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Coot Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Explore Coot Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-10-03
Monitoring stations: 2