Hamilton Lake is a 76-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Caldwell County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 64.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 20.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 64.2 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 20.7 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Hamilton Lake
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Fishing Hamilton Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Hamilton Lake 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 16 field readings (2015–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hamilton Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Caldwell County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Hamilton Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Caldwell County
Explore Hamilton Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Hamilton Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hamilton City Water Plant Dam (completed 1954), built primarily for water supply on the TOM CREEK; earth-type dam, 40 ft tall and 1,300 ft long.
- Surface area
- 76 ac
- Normal storage
- 999 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,013 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.01 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF HAMILTON
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10261 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.17 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Hamilton 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_7124.00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Hamilton Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Hamilton Sw Municipal WwtfHamilton · 1 mi away · NPDES MO0022063Recent violation
- Hamilton Se WwtfHamilton · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MO0022071Recent violation
- Hamilton Ne WwtfHamilton · 3.6 mi away · NPDES MO0022080Recent violation
- Kidder WwtfKidder · 3.9 mi away · NPDES MO0118591Recent 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: 2024-08-28
Monitoring stations: 1