Houston Lake
Platte County, Missouri19 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- #3 of 3 in the county
Houston Lake in Platte County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 176 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 35.8 µg/L. Surface area: 19 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.1 ft
- Typical in September
- 81°F
- Area
- 19 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 176 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 35.8 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Stays near Houston Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Houston Lake in Platte 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 Houston Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Houston Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Houston Lake’s letter
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Houston Lake is a 19-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Platte County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Platte County, Houston Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2023-09-29. 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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 176 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 35.8 µg/L. TSI 73. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 176 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 35.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 73 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Houston Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 85°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 86°F) and coldest in May (about 76°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 13 field readings (2022–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Houston Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 19 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Houston Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Houston Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.14 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.8 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -22.2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Houston Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Houston Lake Dam (completed 1930), built primarily for recreation on the JUMPING BRANCH; other-type dam, 22 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 19 ac
- Normal storage
- 30 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 224 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 898 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- VENETIAN GARDENS HOMES
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10002 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
8 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Houston Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- New York Air BrakeRiverside · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MONX00741
- International Food ProductsRiverside · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MONX00568
- Marlen International IncRiverside · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MONX00592
- Kawneer Company IncRiverside · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MONX00188
- Magellan Terminal Holdings Lp RiversideRiverside · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MO0110663
- Adient Us LlcRiverside · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MONX00261
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 #3 of 3 lakes in Platte County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Houston Lake holds Grade F. 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 Platte County
Frequently asked questions about Houston Lake
Where is Houston Lake?
- Houston Lake is a lake in Platte County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Houston Lake?
- Houston Lake in Platte County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 176 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 35.8 µg/L. Surface area: 19 acres.
Is Houston Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Houston Lake?
- Houston Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in September, from 13 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Houston Lake across LakeQuality
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
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Where this data comes from
38 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC38 samples · 2022–2023
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)