Hemitite Lake is a 220-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in St. Francois County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F 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 with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in St. Francois County, Hemitite Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 186.9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 91.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 77.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 186.9 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 91.9 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 220 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Hemitite Lake
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Fishing Hemitite Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.024 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.74 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -9.73 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Hemitite Lake averages about 83°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in May (about 77°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 61 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hemitite Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in St. Francois County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Hemitite Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ALake CapriSt. Francois County · 11.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- ALake Marseilles-Terre du Lac LakesSt. Francois County · 11.4 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- ALake Shayne-Terre du Lac LakesWashington County · 11.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- ACouncil Bluff LakeIron County · 14.9 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- ATimberline LakesSt. Francois County · 18.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
Nearby Lakes in St. Francois County
Explore Hemitite Lake across LakeGrade
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
Missouri's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Reynolds County · Clarity: 2.7 ft
St. Louis County · Clarity: 0.6 ft
Jefferson County · Clarity: 1.3 ft
St. Louis County · Very Poor
St. Louis County · Clarity: 1.9 ft
St. Louis County · Clarity: 1.6 ft
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Hemitite Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hematite Lake Dam (completed 1944), built primarily for water supply on the ST FRANCOIS RIVER; gravity-type dam, 24 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 220 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,760 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,825 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 10,250 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- HANNA MINING CO
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30001 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.1 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Hemitite 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_7331.00 · 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 Hemitite Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Washington County Pwsd 4 WwtpBismarck · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MO0132519Recent violation
- Iron Mountain Lake WwtfIron Mountain · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MO0122581Recent violation
- Bismarck WwtpBismarck · 3 mi away · NPDES MO0022942Recent violation
- Bismarck W StormwaterBismarck · 3.3 mi away · NPDES MO0049000
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: 2024-08-13
Monitoring stations: 2