Hunnewell Lake is a 228-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Shelby County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Shelby County, Hunnewell Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 3.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 15.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 36 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 15.4 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 228 acres |
Where to stay near Hunnewell Lake
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Fishing Hunnewell Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.138 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.04 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -4.22 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Hunnewell Lake averages about 82°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in Apr (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 141 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hunnewell Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Shelby County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Hunnewell Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CMark Twain Lake Indian Creek ArmRalls County · 14.6 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CMark Twain LakeMonroe County · 14.8 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CMark Twain Lake by Hwy JRalls County · 17.1 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Shelby County
Explore Hunnewell Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Hunnewell Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hunnewell Lake Dam (completed 1953), built primarily for recreation on the TR TO BROWNE BRANCH; earth-type dam, 45 ft tall and 1,200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 228 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,204 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,736 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.98 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10106 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Hunnewell 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_7029.00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Hunnewell Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Hunnewell WwtfHunnewell · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MO0084972Recent 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
Most recent sample: 2024-09-20
Monitoring stations: 2