Harrison County Lake Intake is a 292-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Harrison County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Harrison County, Harrison County Lake Intake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-07-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Harrison County Lake Intake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 1.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 66.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 27.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.7 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 66.7 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 27.6 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 292 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Harrison County Lake Intake
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Fishing Harrison County Lake Intake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | 0 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +7.77 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.35 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Harrison County Lake Intake averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in May (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 60 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Harrison County Lake Intake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Harrison County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Harrison County Lake Intake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BNorth Bethany City ReservoirHarrison County · 6.5 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- BLake MarieMercer County · 28.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
Nearby Lakes in Harrison County
Explore Harrison County Lake Intake 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)
Harrison County Lake Intake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the West Fork of Big Creek C-1 Dam (completed 1992), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the LITTLE CREEK; earth-type dam, 49 ft tall and 1,500 ft long.
- Surface area
- 292 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,842 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 9,994 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 17.2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO12370 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.08 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Harrison County Lake Intake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MO_7386.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.29 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-07-30
Monitoring stations: 1