Council Bluff Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Iron County, Missouri. Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Council Bluff Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2025-07-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Council Bluff Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 13.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 5.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.1 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 5.3 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.3 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Council Bluff Lake
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Fishing Council Bluff Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.067 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.45 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.52 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Council Bluff Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in May (about 73°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 64 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Council Bluff Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Iron County
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
Explore Council Bluff Lake across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Missouri's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Missouri
Washington County · Clarity: 11.1 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 16.3 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 14.1 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 14.3 ft
Jefferson County · Clarity: 12.9 ft
Ste. Genevieve County · Clarity: 9.9 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Council Bluff Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Council Bluff Dam (completed 1981), built primarily for recreation on the BIG RIVER; earth-type dam, 112 ft tall and 485 ft long.
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USDA FS
All listed purposes: Recreation;Fish and Wildlife Pond.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO31755 · Operator website
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2025-07-29
Monitoring stations: 2