Lake Serene is a 65-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Franklin County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Franklin County, Lake Serene ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-22. 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 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 39.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 13.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 39.5 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.6 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Serene
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Serene in Franklin 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.
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Fishing Lake Serene
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.036 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.28 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.12 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Lake Serene averages about 85°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 88°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 24 field readings (2021–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Serene water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 5 lakes in Franklin County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Serene holds Grade D. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ALake Wauwanoka Nr. DamJefferson County · 18.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → A)
- BMarion ReservoirFranklin County · 3.5 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CLake Tishomingo Nr. DamJefferson County · 12 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CFawn LakeFranklin County · 17.3 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Franklin County
Explore Lake Serene 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 Serene is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Serene Dam (completed 1957), built primarily for recreation on the TRIBUTARY OF CALVEY CREEK; earth-type dam, 42 ft tall and 1,175 ft long.
- Surface area
- 65 ac
- Normal storage
- 905 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 913 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.47 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- LAKE SERENE TRUSTEES
All listed purposes: Recreation;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30542 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
9 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Serene under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 5 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Ccsd Catawissa WwtfCatawissa · 1.2 mi away · NPDES MO0115410Recent violation
- Windfall Estates Mhp WwtpCatawissa · 1.9 mi away · NPDES MO0081035Recent violation
- Ccsd, Robertsville WwtfRobertsville · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MO0115401Recent violation
- Kober'S Mhp WwtfPacific · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MO0095583Recent violation
- Cole Circle Mobile Home PVilla Ridge · 4.9 mi away · NPDES MO0054984Recent violation
- Nike Elementary SchoolCatawissa · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MO0090603
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
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: 2024-09-22
Monitoring stations: 1