Henry Sever Lake is a 160-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Knox County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. 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 2024-07-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Henry Sever Lake 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 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 25.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 58 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 25.4 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 160 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Henry Sever Lake
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Fishing Henry Sever Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.008 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.57 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.31 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Henry Sever Lake averages about 82°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in May (about 74°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 Henry Sever Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Knox County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Henry Sever Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DDeer Ridge Comm. LakeLewis County · 14.4 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DHunnewell LakeShelby County · 21.5 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Knox County
Explore Henry Sever 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)
Henry Sever Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Henry Sever Dam (completed 1961), built primarily for recreation on the MEYERS BRANCH; earth-type dam, 41 ft tall and 1,160 ft long.
- Surface area
- 160 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,101 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,265 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.1 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10110 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Henry Sever Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Newark WwtfNewark · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MO0129976Recent violation
- Heartland Community WwtfNewark · 3.6 mi away · NPDES MO0119130Recent violation
- Labelle Dairy, LlcLa Belle · 4.1 mi away · NPDES MO0119962Recent 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
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: 2024-07-31
Monitoring stations: 2