Jackrabbit Lake is a 28-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 26 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Jackrabbit Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2023-10-03. 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: 148.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 40 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 72.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 148.3 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 40 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 72 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 28 acres |
Where to stay near Jackrabbit Lake
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Fishing Jackrabbit Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.039 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +12.62 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5.57 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Jackrabbit Lake averages about 84°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 86°F) and coldest in Jun (about 82°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 24 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Jackrabbit Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 27 lakes in Jackson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Jackrabbit Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CLotawana Lk. LakeJackson County · 5.2 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DPrairie Lee Lake Nr. DamJackson County · 3.8 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- FCottontail LakeJackson County · 0.6 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- FCoot LakeJackson County · 1.6 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- FRaintree LakeCass County · 4.9 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Explore Jackrabbit 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)
Jackrabbit Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Jackrabbit Lake Dam (completed 1955), built primarily for recreation on the TR-EAST BR-BIG CREEK; earth-type dam, 27 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 28 ac
- Normal storage
- 233 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 404 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 470 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO20027 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Jackrabbit 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_7391.00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-10-03
Monitoring stations: 2