Kessler Lake
Jackson County, MissouriView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- #19 of 23 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Kessler Lake in Jackson County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 265 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 50 µg/L.
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 265 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 50 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Kessler Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kessler Lake in Jackson County, Missouri — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Kessler Lake are listed below.
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Kessler Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Kessler Lake ranks #19 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria F
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Based on E. coli testing, Kessler Lake routinely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 30% of 10 samples across 4 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Missouri’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 265 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 50 µg/L. TSI 77. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 265 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 50 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Kessler Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in May (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 39 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Kessler Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Kessler Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +54.25 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.69 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
31 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Kessler Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 7 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Vicinity Energy Kansas CityKansas City · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MO0004847MajorRecent violation
- Bally'S Kansas CityKansas City · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MO0139386Recent violation
- Ingredion Incorporated, North KansasNorth Kansas City · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MO0002534Recent violation
- Nkc Sewage Treatment Sludge LfNorth Kansas City · 1.9 mi away · NPDES MO0107263Recent violation
- Polynt Composites Usa, Inc.North Kansas City · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MO0003140Recent violation
- North Kansas City WtpNorth Kansas City · 2.8 mi away · NPDES MO0107956Recent 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #19 of 23 lakes in Jackson County
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Frequently asked questions about Kessler Lake
Where is Kessler Lake?
- Kessler Lake is a lake in Jackson County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Kessler Lake?
- Kessler Lake in Jackson County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 265 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 50 µg/L.
Is Kessler Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Kessler Lake routinely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 30% of 10 samples across 4 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of F — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Kessler Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Missouri's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Kessler Lake?
- Kessler Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 39 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Kessler Lake across LakeQuality
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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Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- EPA R7
EPA_R7_WQX30 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Nutrient Analysis
- Chlorophyll a
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- Total Nitrogen Calculation
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)