Finger Lakes is a 79-acre mesotrophic lake in Boone County, Missouri. Water quality is graded B based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Boone County, Finger Lakes ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2023-08-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Finger Lakes water quality
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 16.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.9 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | 16.5 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.1 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 79 acres |
Where to stay near Finger Lakes
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Fishing Finger Lakes
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.106 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +5.49 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5.9 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Water Temperature
Finger Lakes averages about 82°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in May (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2017–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Finger Lakes water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 12 lakes in Boone County
Nearby Lakes in Boone County
Explore Finger Lakes across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Missouri
Chariton County · Clarity: 8 ft
Morgan County · Clarity: 7.5 ft
Miller County · Clarity: 6.7 ft
Miller County · Clarity: 6.9 ft
Morgan County · Clarity: 6.2 ft
Camden County · Clarity: 8.7 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Finger Lakes is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Finger Lakes Dam South, built primarily for recreation on the ROCKY FORK CK.; earth-type dam, 44 ft tall and 910 ft long.
- Surface area
- 79 ac
- Normal storage
- 398 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 585 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.84 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO. DNR PARKS
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO12212 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.05 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Finger Lakes under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Bcrsd Quarter Mile Hills WwtfHallsville · 3.6 mi away · NPDES MO0126446Recent violation
- Gsa Silver Meadow Camp WwtpHallsville · 4 mi away · NPDES MO0124338Recent violation
- Mawc, Hallsville WwtfHallsville · 4.3 mi away · NPDES MO0104990Recent violation
- Buckman Site - Hallsville WwtfHallsville · 4.4 mi away · NPDES MO0140686Recent violation
- Mike'S TotalColumbia · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MO0114049
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)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-08-30
Monitoring stations: 1