James R. Just Ab. Lake Springfield is a mesotrophic lake in Greene County, Missouri. Water quality is graded B based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Greene County, James R. Just Ab. Lake Springfield ranks #2 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
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Murky, only visible to about 4.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 23.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.2 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 23.8 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.2 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near James R. Just Ab. Lake Springfield
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Fishing James R. Just Ab. Lake Springfield
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.026 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.37 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
James R. Just Ab. Lake Springfield averages about 75°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 77°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 93 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full James R. Just Ab. Lake Springfield water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Greene County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
James R. Just Ab. Lake Springfield holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BFellows LakeGreene County · 13.1 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- BLake Taneycomo @ Rockaway BeachTaney County · 29.9 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Greene County
Explore James R. Just Ab. Lake Springfield across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Missouri
Taney County · Clarity: 3.3 ft
Taney County · Clarity: 8.7 ft
Taney County · Clarity: 8.9 ft
Stone County · Clarity: 4.3 ft
Stone County · Clarity: 6.9 ft
Stone County · Clarity: 7.2 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
James R. Just Ab. Lake Springfield 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_7312.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.72 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
6 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of James R. Just Ab. Lake Springfield under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Blackman DwtpSpringfield · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MO0139891Recent violation
- James Valley Farms Subdivision WwtpSpringfield · 4.5 mi away · NPDES MO0100315Recent violation
- Blackman Water PlantSpringfield · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MO0130486
- Ge Industrial SystemsSpringfield · 4.1 mi away · NPDES MO0002101
- Usps Glenstone StationSpringfield · 4.7 mi away · NPDES MONX00228
- Kraft Heinz Foods CompanySpringfield · 4.8 mi away · NPDES MO0001945
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)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2024-09-20
Monitoring stations: 1