Lake Paho is a 269-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Mercer County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Mercer County, Lake Paho ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2021-09-01. 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 2.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 37 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 48.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 37 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 48.2 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 269 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Paho
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Fishing Lake Paho
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Lake Paho averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in May (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2015–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Paho water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Mercer County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Paho holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BLake MarieMercer County · 7.9 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- BNorth Bethany City ReservoirHarrison County · 20.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
Nearby Lakes in Mercer County
Explore Lake Paho 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 Paho is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Paho Dam (completed 1951), built primarily for recreation on the WEST MUDDY CREEK; earth-type dam, 40 ft tall and 1,075 ft long.
- Surface area
- 269.1 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,477 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,884 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4.78 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10108 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Paho 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_7132.00 · Official waterbody report
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 Paho under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Princeton WwtfPrinceton · 3 mi away · NPDES MO0028762Recent 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)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2021-09-01
Monitoring stations: 1