Izaak Walton Lake is a 10-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Vernon County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2020. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2020-08-21. 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 1.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 280 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 123.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 78.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 280 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 123.1 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 78 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Izaak Walton Lake
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Fishing Izaak Walton Lake
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Vernon County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Izaak Walton Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- FLamar City Lk. Up Northern Arm LakeBarton County · 26.1 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- FLamar City Lk. East Arm LakeBarton County · 26.3 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- FLamar City Lk. Nr. Dam LakeBarton County · 26.4 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- FLamar City Lk. South Arm LakeBarton County · 26.5 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Vernon County
Explore Izaak Walton 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
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Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Barton County · Clarity: 1.8 ft
Barton County · Clarity: 2 ft
Barton County · Clarity: 1.9 ft
Barton County · Clarity: 2.1 ft
Barton County · Clarity: 1.8 ft
Henry County · Clarity: 0.6 ft
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Izaak Walton Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Izaak Walton Lake Dam (completed 1926), built primarily for recreation on the TR TO WHITE BRANCH; earth-type dam, 25 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 10 ac
- Normal storage
- 67 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 134 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,000 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF NEVADA
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO20048 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
6 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Izaak Walton Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Nevada WwtpNevada · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MO0089109MajorRecent violation
- Camp Clark Training Site WwtfNevada · 4.7 mi away · NPDES MO0037052Recent violation
- Nf Protein Nevada PlantNevada · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MO0137766
- Vernon County Meats LlcNevada · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MONX00946
- 3M Company (Nevada, Mo)Nevada · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MO0111082
- Vernon County Sewer Dist-Rolling MeadowsNevada · 3 mi away · NPDES MO0042153
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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2020-08-21
Monitoring stations: 1