Lake Arrowhead is a 87-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Clinton County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2023-08-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 68.2 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 28.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 68.2 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28.2 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 87 acres |
Where to stay near Lake Arrowhead
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Fishing Lake Arrowhead
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.13 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +5.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.4 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Water Temperature
Lake Arrowhead averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Jun (about 80°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2022–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Arrowhead water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Clinton County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Arrowhead holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DWatkins Mill LakeClay County · 6.8 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DSmithville LakeClay County · 12.1 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DSmithville LakeClay County · 12.2 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DSmithville Lake by DamClay County · 14.1 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- DPony Express LakeDeKalb County · 22.3 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Clinton County
Explore Lake Arrowhead across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Arrowhead is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Arrowhead Dam (completed 1975), built primarily for recreation on the MUDDY FORK; earth-type dam, 51 ft tall and 890 ft long.
- Surface area
- 87 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,754 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,209 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7.86 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- LAKE ARROWHEAD POA
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO11016 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Lake Arrowhead under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Holt Wastewater LagoonHolt · 3.6 mi away · NPDES MO0109002Recent 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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-08-10
Monitoring stations: 1