Lake Springfield is a 360-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Greene County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Greene County, Lake Springfield ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lake Springfield water quality
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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 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 67.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 18.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 67.8 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.3 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 360 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Springfield
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Fishing Lake Springfield
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.001 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.73 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.62 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Lake Springfield averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Apr (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 95 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Springfield water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Greene County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Springfield holds Grade D. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BFellows LakeGreene County · 14.2 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- BLake Taneycomo @ Rockaway BeachTaney County · 29.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- BJames R. Just Ab. Lake SpringfieldGreene County · 2.2 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- BLake TaneycomoTaney County · 28.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
Nearby Lakes in Greene County
Explore Lake Springfield across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Barry County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
Hickory County · Clarity: 1.3 ft
Hickory County · Clarity: 2.6 ft
Hickory County · Clarity: 3 ft
Hickory County · Clarity: 2.8 ft
Hickory County · Clarity: 2.1 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Springfield is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Springfield Dam (completed 1956), built primarily for water supply on the JAMES RIVER; earth-type dam, 45 ft tall and 1,950 ft long.
- Surface area
- 360 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,806 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 20,077 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 303 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- SPRINGFIELD CITY UTILIT.
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Other;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO20023 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Springfield 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_7312.00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
17 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Springfield under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 10 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- James River Power StationSpringfield · 0.1 mi away · NPDES MO0001961Major
- Cedar Hill Apartments WwtpOzark · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MO0106127Recent violation
- Tuscany Hills Subdivision WwtpNixa · 2.8 mi away · NPDES MO0131172Recent violation
- Fremont Hills WwtpNixa · 2.8 mi away · NPDES MO0106151Recent violation
- Merchant'S Field WwtfNixa · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MO0119687Recent violation
- Heritage Petroleum, LlcNixa · 3.8 mi away · NPDES MO0139378Recent 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: 2024-09-20
Monitoring stations: 1