Hamilton Lake
Caldwell County, Missouri76 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 32 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Hamilton Lake in Caldwell County, Missouri has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 64.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20.7 µg/L. Surface area: 76 acres.
- Typical in August
- 83°F
- Max depth
- ~32 ft est.
- Area
- 76 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 64.2 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 20.7 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Hamilton Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hamilton Lake in Caldwell 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 Hamilton Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Hamilton Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 whole trip? See where to stay at Missouri’s top lakes →
Watch Hamilton Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Hamilton Lake is a 76-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Caldwell County, Missouri with an estimated average depth of about 32 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-28. 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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Hamilton Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 64.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 20.7 µg/L. TSI 62. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 64.2 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 20.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Hamilton Lake typically sits around 83°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 82°F. 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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~32 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~10 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Missouri has not published bathymetry for Hamilton Lake.
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.
Fishing Hamilton Lake
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Caldwell County
Nearby Lakes in Caldwell County
Frequently asked questions about Hamilton Lake
Where is Hamilton Lake?
- Hamilton Lake is a lake in Caldwell County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Hamilton Lake?
- Hamilton Lake in Caldwell County, Missouri has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 64.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20.7 µg/L. Surface area: 76 acres.
Is Hamilton Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Hamilton 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 Hamilton Lake?
- Hamilton Lake typically sits around 83°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2015–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hamilton Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Hamilton Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 32 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 76 acres.
Explore Hamilton Lake across LakeQuality
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC8 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- 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)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)