Houston Lake is a 19-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Platte County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 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: 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 1.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 176 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 35.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 73.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 176 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 35.8 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 73 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 19 acres |
Where to stay 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.
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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 |
Water Temperature
Houston Lake averages about 85°F at the surface in summer, 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 →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Platte County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Houston Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BWeatherby LakePlatte County · 5.1 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- CWaukomis LakePlatte County · 2.7 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
Nearby Lakes in Platte County
Explore Houston Lake across LakeGrade
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
Missouri's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-29
Monitoring stations: 1