Lake of the Woods is a 6-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 26 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Lake of the Woods ranks #22 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lake of the Woods water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Lake of the Woods never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% 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, Very Poor
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 111 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 35.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 111 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 35.2 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
Where to stay near Lake of the Woods
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake of the Woods 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake of the Woods
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 Lake of the Woods?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Lake of the Woods — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Missouri’s top lakes →
Fishing Lake of the Woods
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.019 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +16.13 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.99 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Lake of the Woods averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in May (about 74°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 46 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #22 of 27 lakes in Jackson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake of the Woods holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CBlue Valley LakeJackson County · 5.9 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CLongview Lake by DamJackson County · 5.9 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DLongview L. Nr. Dam LakeJackson County · 5.7 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DValley LakeJackson County · 5.9 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- FLake of the Woods-KcJackson County · 0 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Explore Lake of the Woods across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake of the Woods is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Gregory Blvd Dam (completed 1907), built primarily for other on the TR-BLUE RIVER; earth-type dam, 29 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 6 ac
- Normal storage
- 60 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 93 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 830 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- BRD OF PRKS+REC COMMISSN
All listed purposes: Other;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO20147 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.13 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_7629.00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-09-05
Monitoring stations: 1