Benton County, Missouri · Water Quality Report Card
H S Truman Reservoir
H S Truman Reservoir in Benton County, Missouri has a water quality grade of D (Poor). Water clarity: 3.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 17.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.8 ft
- Mean depth
- ~113 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
H S Truman Reservoir is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Benton County, Missouri with an estimated average depth of about 113 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch H S Truman Reservoir water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, H S Truman Reservoir occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 8.1% of 236 samples across 8 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Missouri’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: D (Poor)
Murky, only visible to about 3.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 36.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 17.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.8 ft | |
| Phosphorus | 36.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 17.2 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~113 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Missouri has not published bathymetry for H S Truman Reservoir.
Where to stay near H S Truman Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near H S Truman Reservoir in Benton 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.
Top-rated places to stay near H S Truman Reservoir
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to H S Truman Reservoir?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near H S Truman Reservoir — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Missouri’s top lakes →
Fishing H S Truman Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.017 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.89 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.12 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Benton County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
H S Truman Reservoir holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ACrystal-Morgan LakeMorgan County · 26.5 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → A)
- CPomme de Terre LakeHickory County · 26.1 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CPomme de Terre L. Central Arm LakeHickory County · 28.8 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Benton County
Explore H S Truman Reservoir across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Lake of the Ozarks area
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Missouri's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Where this data comes from
88 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC88 samples · 2020–2024
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 come from the U.S. EPA National Lakes Assessment 2022 Technical Support Document (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion
Most recent sample: 2024-09-11
Monitoring stations: 1