Gopher Lake is a 40-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 26 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Gopher Lake ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-06. 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 1.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 145.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 53 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 73.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 145.7 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 53 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 73 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
Where to stay near Gopher Lake
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Fishing Gopher Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.039 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +12.62 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5.57 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Gopher Lake averages about 83°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 85°F) and coldest in May (about 78°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Gopher Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 27 lakes in Jackson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Gopher Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DPrairie Lee Lake Nr. DamJackson County · 4.9 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- FCottontail LakeJackson County · 0.7 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- FCoot LakeJackson County · 1.4 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- FRaintree LakeCass County · 4.5 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Explore Gopher Lake across LakeGrade
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
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Gopher Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Gopher Lake Dam (completed 1966), built primarily for recreation on the TR-EAST BRANCH-BIG CREEK; earth-type dam, 28 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 40 ac
- Normal storage
- 280 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 599 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 280 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO20031 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Gopher 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_7383.00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Gopher Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Sanitary Sewer District 103 WwtfGreenwood · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MO0107476Recent violation
- Greenwood Generating StationGreenwood · 1.2 mi away · NPDES MO0133141
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
Most recent sample: 2024-08-06
Monitoring stations: 1