Holden City Lake Nr. Dam is a 380-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Johnson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Johnson County, Holden City Lake Nr. Dam ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2022-10-13. 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 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 96 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 39.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 96 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 39.2 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 380 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
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Fishing Holden City Lake Nr. Dam
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Holden City Lake Nr. Dam averages about 83°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 86°F) and coldest in Apr (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 21 field readings (2015–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Holden City Lake Nr. Dam water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 5 lakes in Johnson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Holden City Lake Nr. Dam holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BRock Lake Village LakeJohnson County · 8.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- CLotawana Lk. LakeJackson County · 16.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DHazel Hill Lake by DamJohnson County · 15.2 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- FHarrisonville LakeCass County · 15.7 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- FCottontail LakeJackson County · 17.3 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Johnson County
Explore Holden City Lake Nr. Dam 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)
Holden City Lake Nr. Dam is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Holden New City Reservoir (completed 1980), built primarily for recreation on the TRIB SOUTH FORK BLACKWATER; earth-type dam, 58 ft tall and 3,350 ft long.
- Surface area
- 380 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,413 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 6,300 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4.5 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF HOLDEN
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO20532 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.22 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Holden City Lake Nr. Dam 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_7193.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.66 km)
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 Holden City Lake Nr. Dam under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Aeci Holden Power PlantHolden · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MO0126560Recent violation
- Kingsville WwtfKingsville · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MO0025844Recent violation
- Parkwood Estates WwtpHolden · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MO0130931Recent violation
- Holden Municipal WwtfHolden · 3.4 mi away · NPDES MO0057908Recent 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
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: 2022-10-13
Monitoring stations: 1