Lake of the Woods-Kc is a 6-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 26 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Lake of the Woods-Kc ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2023-07-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 94.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 28.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 94.5 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28.7 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
Where to stay near Lake of the Woods-Kc
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Fishing Lake of the Woods-Kc
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-Kc averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°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 47 field readings (2012–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake of the Woods-Kc water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 27 lakes in Jackson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake of the Woods-Kc holds Grade F. 4 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)
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Explore Lake of the Woods-Kc 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-Kc 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 (0.09 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Lake of the Woods-Kc 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 · Matched by proximity (0.07 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake of the Woods-Kc under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Southeast Landfill LlcKansas City · 1.2 mi away · NPDES MO0105023Recent violation
- Spx Cooling Tech LlcKansas City · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MONX00266
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: 2023-07-22
Monitoring stations: 2