Lake of the Woods is a 9-acre mesotrophic lake in Boone County, Missouri. Water quality is graded B based on 3 sampling years through 2022. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Boone County, Lake of the Woods ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2022-08-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus level: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.9 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
Where to stay near Lake of the Woods
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Fishing Lake of the Woods
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 12 lakes in Boone County
Nearby Lakes in Boone County
Explore Lake of the Woods across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Missouri
Gasconade County · Clarity: 7.2 ft
Miller County · Clarity: 6.9 ft
Miller County · Clarity: 6.7 ft
Camden County · Clarity: 8.7 ft
Camden County · Clarity: 8.7 ft
Morgan County · Clarity: 7.5 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake of the Woods is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Welch Lake Dam (completed 1960), built primarily for recreation on the HOMINY BRANCH; earth-type dam, 22 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 9 ac
- Normal storage
- 49 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 106 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2,100 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- EDW,INC.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10733 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.46 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Lake of the Woods 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_7436.00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
36 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake of the Woods under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 9 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Eurofins Eag Agroscience, LlcColumbia · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MO0104591Recent violation
- Manchester Heights Subdivision WwtfColumbia · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MO0081922Recent violation
- Bcrsd Highfield Acres WwtfColumbia · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MO0053376Recent violation
- Bcrsd, Sunrise Estates Nw WwtfColumbia · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MO0090824Recent violation
- El Ray Mobile Home ParkColumbia · 1 mi away · NPDES MO0105520Recent violation
- Lake Of The Woods MhpColumbia · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MO0109631Recent 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-08-31
Monitoring stations: 1