Higginsville South Lake is a 151-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lafayette County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F 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 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Lafayette County, Higginsville South Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Higginsville South Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 94.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 35.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 94.2 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 35.3 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 151 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Higginsville South Lake
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 to Higginsville South Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Higginsville South Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Missouri’s top lakes →
Fishing Higginsville South Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.004 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.27 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.7 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Higginsville South Lake averages about 83°F at the surface in summer, 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 →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Lafayette County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Higginsville South Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BRock Lake Village LakeJohnson County · 24.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- BLake ButeoJohnson County · 22.1 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- DHazel Hill Lake by DamJohnson County · 16 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- FEdwin A Pape LakeLafayette County · 9.9 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- FBlind Pony LakeSaline County · 16.3 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Lafayette County
Explore Higginsville South Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
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
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
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.
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: 2024-08-06
Monitoring stations: 2