Gopher Lake
Jackson County, Missouri40 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #13 of 23 in the county
- Limited data
Gopher Lake in Jackson County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 145.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 53 µg/L. Surface area: 40 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 85°F
- Area
- 40 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Stays near Gopher Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gopher Lake in Jackson County, Missouri — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Gopher Lake are listed below.
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Gopher Lake is a 40-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Gopher Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Gopher Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 145.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 53 µg/L. TSI 73. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 145.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 53 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 73 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Gopher Lake typically sits around 85°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 83°F. 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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Gopher Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
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 |
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 23 lakes in Jackson County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Gopher Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Frequently asked questions about Gopher Lake
Where is Gopher Lake?
- Gopher Lake is a lake in Jackson County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Gopher Lake?
- Gopher Lake in Jackson County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 145.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 53 µg/L. Surface area: 40 acres.
Is Gopher Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Gopher Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Gopher Lake?
- Gopher Lake typically sits around 85°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Gopher Lake across LakeQuality
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
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Where this data comes from
22 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC22 samples · 2023–2024
Analytical methods
- Depth, Secchi disk in meters
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)