Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh
Taney County, MissouriView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- #9 of 9 in the county
- Public access
Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh in Taney County, Missouri has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 21.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.5 µg/L.
- Typical in September
- 59°F
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 21.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh’s letter
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Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Taney County, Missouri. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Taney County, Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 21.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.5 µg/L. TSI 41. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 21.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Water Temperature
Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh typically sits around 59°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 54°F. Usually warmest in Sep (about 59°F) and coldest in Apr (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 74 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Shepherd of the Hills Fish HatcheryPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -20.75 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.57 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.47 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
8 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Stonecroft Ministries Conf Center WwtpHollister · 3.3 mi away · NPDES MO0099686Recent violation
- Gerth Camper ParkBranson · 0.4 mi away · NPDES MO0125466
- Damsite SubdivisionBranson · 0.4 mi away · NPDES MO0096784
- Hillbilly Country MotelBranson · 0.5 mi away · NPDES MO0099414
- Emerald Pointe Utility Company, Inc.Hollister · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MO0116394
- Big Bear Estates At Table Rock Lake WwtfHollister · 2.9 mi away · NPDES MO0102121
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 9 lakes in Taney County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Taney County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh
Where is Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh?
- Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh is a lake in Taney County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh?
- Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh in Taney County, Missouri has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 21.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.5 µg/L.
Is Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh?
- Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh typically sits around 59°F at the surface in September, from 74 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh?
- Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Table Rock & Branson Lakes area
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Other Grade C Lakes in Missouri
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Where this data comes from
50 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC50 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory