Lake Lucern
Warren County, Missouri42 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↑ up from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #9 of 16 in the county
- Limited data
Lake Lucern in Warren County, Missouri has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.1 µg/L. Surface area: 42 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.2 ft
- Typical in September
- 77°F
- Area
- 42 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Lucern
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Lucern in Warren 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 Lake Lucern
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 whole trip? See where to stay at Missouri’s top lakes →
Watch Lake Lucern’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Lake Lucern is a 42-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Warren County, Missouri. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Warren County, Lake Lucern ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2020-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 5.2 ft. Phosphorus 25.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10.1 µg/L. TSI 53. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Lake Lucern typically sits around 77°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 82°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in Apr (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 70 field readings (2010–2020) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Lucern water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Lucern, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Lucern
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.026 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.1 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.07 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Lucern is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Lucern Dam (completed 1971), built primarily for recreation on the TRIB CHARRETTE CREEK; earth-type dam, 30 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 42 ac
- Normal storage
- 338 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 674 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,140 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- ASPENHOF CORP.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30519 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
13 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Lucern under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 6 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Country Cove Mhp WwtfWright City · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MO0117269Recent violation
- 16200 Veterans Memorial East WwtfWright City · 3.3 mi away · NPDES MO0113786Recent violation
- Faith Christian Family Church WwtpTruesdale · 3.7 mi away · NPDES MO0129721Recent violation
- Country Horizon Mhp WwtpWright City · 4.2 mi away · NPDES MO0113387Recent violation
- North Oak WwtpWright City · 4.2 mi away · NPDES MO0109673Recent violation
- Sccpwsd 2 Hickory Trails WwtpWright City · 4.7 mi away · NPDES MO0136204Recent 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 #9 of 16 lakes in Warren County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Lucern holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Warren County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Lucern
Where is Lake Lucern?
- Lake Lucern is a lake in Warren County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Lucern?
- Lake Lucern in Warren County, Missouri has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.1 µg/L. Surface area: 42 acres.
Is Lake Lucern safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Lucern?
- Lake Lucern typically sits around 77°F at the surface in September, from 70 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2020). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake Lucern across LakeQuality
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
17 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC17 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Depth, Secchi disk in meters
- 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)
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)