Higginsville South Lake
Lafayette County, Missouri151 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↑ up from F at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 40 ft max depth
- Public access
Higginsville South Lake in Lafayette County, Missouri has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 91.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 29.3 µg/L. Surface area: 151 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 83°F
- Max depth
- ~40 ft est.
- Area
- 151 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Higginsville South Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Higginsville South Lake in Lafayette 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 Higginsville South Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Higginsville South 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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Higginsville South Lake → · more Missouri lake trips
Watch Higginsville South Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Higginsville South Lake is a 151-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lafayette County, Missouri with an estimated average depth of about 40 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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. Higginsville South 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)
Very murky, less than 1.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 91.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 29.3 µg/L. TSI 67. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 91.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 29.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Higginsville South Lake typically sits around 83°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 83°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in May (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 64 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Higginsville South Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~40 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~12 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 151 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 Higginsville South 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 Higginsville South Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.01 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.54 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -6.85 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Higginsville South Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Higginsville South Reservoir Dam (completed 1949), built primarily for water supply on the JOHNSON CREEK; earth-type dam, 34 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 151 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,661 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,747 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3,400 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- CITY OF HIGGINSVILLE
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10146 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Higginsville South 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_7190.00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
6 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Higginsville South Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Higginsville South WwtfHigginsville · 2.2 mi away · NPDES MO0023108Recent violation
- Corder South WwtfCorder · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MO0022934
- Wincup Higginsville PlantHigginsville · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MONX00435
- United Parcel Service Ups HigginsvilleHigginsville · 3.6 mi away · NPDES MONX00913
- Corder North WwtfCorder · 3.7 mi away · NPDES MO0022926
- United Parcel Service - HigginsvilleHigginsville · 4.6 mi away · NPDES MONX00691
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 Lafayette County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Higginsville South Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Lafayette County
Frequently asked questions about Higginsville South Lake
Where is Higginsville South Lake?
- Higginsville South Lake is a lake in Lafayette County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Higginsville South Lake?
- Higginsville South Lake in Lafayette County, Missouri has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 91.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 29.3 µg/L. Surface area: 151 acres.
Is Higginsville South Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Higginsville South 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 Higginsville South Lake?
- Higginsville South Lake typically sits around 83°F at the surface in August, from 64 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Higginsville South Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Higginsville South Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 40 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 151 acres.
Explore Higginsville South Lake across LakeQuality
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
85 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC85 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Depth, Secchi disk in meters
- 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)