Elmwood Lake is a 224-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sullivan County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Sullivan County, Elmwood Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-07-30. 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 2.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 70.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 35.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.7 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 70.8 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 35.2 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 224 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Elmwood Lake
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Fishing Elmwood Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +55.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -7.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Elmwood Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in May (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Elmwood Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Sullivan County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Elmwood Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BLake MarieMercer County · 29.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- BForest LakeAdair County · 24.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- BMilan Lake NorthSullivan County · 1.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- CHazel Creek Lk. LakeAdair County · 26.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CForest Lake Se BranchAdair County · 25.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
Nearby Lakes in Sullivan County
Explore Elmwood 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)
Elmwood Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Elmwood City Lake Dam (completed 1972), built primarily for water supply on the ELMWOOD BRANCH; earth-type dam, 47 ft tall and 850 ft long.
- Surface area
- 224 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,445 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 7,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6.41 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF MILAN
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10240 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.15 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Elmwood 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_7146.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.18 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Elmwood Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Smithfield Fresh MeatsMilan · 0.4 mi away · NPDES MO0115487MajorRecent 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2024-07-30
Monitoring stations: 2