Jo Shelby Lake
Linn County, Missouri31 acresView mapDirections
Missouri DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Jo Shelby Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Limited data
Jo Shelby Lake in Linn County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 48 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15 µg/L. Surface area: 31 acres.
Jo Shelby Lake is a 31-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Linn County, Missouri. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Linn County, Jo Shelby Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-07. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Jo Shelby Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Jo Shelby Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Jo Shelby Lake
These are the measurements Missouri DNR publishes for Jo Shelby Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 48 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 15 µg/L. TSI 59.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 48µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 15µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 59 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Jo Shelby Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Jo Shelby Lake typically sits around 83°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 82°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 83°F) and coldest in May (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (72°F) to its warmest (83°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2013–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Jo Shelby Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
Surface area
31 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Missouri DNR
No bathymetric survey has been published for Jo Shelby Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Fountain Grove Conservation AreaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Jo Shelby Lake
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Top-rated places to stay near Jo Shelby Lake
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Fishing Jo Shelby Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Jo Shelby Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Fountain Grove Lake Dam (completed 1958), built primarily for recreation on the TR-PARSON CREEK; earth-type dam, 26 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 31 ac
- Normal storage
- 220 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 431 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 375 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10182 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.04 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Jo Shelby Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Meadville WwtfMeadville · 4.8 mi away · NPDES MO0041114Recent violation
- Ponting Custom ApplicationHale · 4.2 mi away · NPDES MONX00295
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.
Nearby Lakes in Linn County
Frequently asked questions about Jo Shelby Lake
Where is Jo Shelby Lake?
- Jo Shelby Lake is a lake in Linn County, Missouri. Its water-quality measurements are published by Missouri DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Jo Shelby Lake?
- Jo Shelby Lake in Linn County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 48 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15 µg/L. Surface area: 31 acres.
Is Jo Shelby Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Jo Shelby Lake?
- Jo Shelby Lake typically sits around 83°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2013–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Jo Shelby Lake?
- Jo Shelby Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fountain Grove Conservation Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Jo Shelby Lake?
- Jo Shelby Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Missouri's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Jo Shelby Lake across LakeQuality
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Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC8 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory