King Lake is a 184-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in DeKalb 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 with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in DeKalb County, King Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-06-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch King Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 0.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 186 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 39.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 77.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 186 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 39.2 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 184 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near King Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near King Lake in DeKalb 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.
Top-rated places to stay near King Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to King Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near King Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Missouri’s top lakes →
Fishing King Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.013 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +23.92 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +20.27 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
King Lake averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°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 21 field readings (2013–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full King Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 6 lakes in DeKalb County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
King Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CHappy Holler LakeAndrew County · 15.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DBuffalo Bill Lake Nr. AccessDeKalb County · 14.5 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DPony Express LakeDeKalb County · 15.4 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DHamilton LakeCaldwell County · 28.7 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in DeKalb County
Explore King 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)
King Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the King Lake Dam (completed 1971), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the LOST CREEK; earth-type dam, 40 ft tall and 1,920 ft long.
- Surface area
- 184 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,293 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,773 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 19.06 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10384 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
King 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_7112.00 · 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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2024-06-10
Monitoring stations: 2