Lake Tapawingo is a 78-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 26 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Lake Tapawingo ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lake Tapawingo water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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: 46.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 25.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 46.3 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 25.1 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 78 acres |
Where to stay near Lake Tapawingo
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Tapawingo in Jackson 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Tapawingo
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Lake Tapawingo?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Lake Tapawingo — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Missouri’s top lakes →
Fishing Lake Tapawingo
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.023 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.82 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.18 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Lake Tapawingo averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Apr (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 100 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Tapawingo water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 27 lakes in Jackson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Tapawingo holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CJacomo LakeJackson County · 2.1 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CLotawana Lk. LakeJackson County · 7 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- DPrairie Lee Lake Nr. DamJackson County · 5.5 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Explore Lake Tapawingo 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 Tapawingo is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Tapawingo Dam (completed 1926), built primarily for recreation on the TR EAST FORK OF LITTLE BLUE R; earth-type dam, 55 ft tall and 970 ft long.
- Surface area
- 78 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,400 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.03 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Lake Tapawingo Country Club
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO20127 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
12 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Tapawingo under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Barbour Concrete CompanyIndependence · 4.6 mi away · NPDES MO0128422Recent violation
- Meyer Laboratory IncBlue Springs · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MONX00758
- Faurecia Interior SystemsBlue Springs · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MONX00704
- Weidenhammer New Packaging LlcIndependence · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MONX00978
- Ronson Machine And ManufacturingIndependence · 3.4 mi away · NPDES MONX00670
- Thyssenkrupp Supply Chain Services Na InIndependence · 3.4 mi away · NPDES MONX01028
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
Most recent sample: 2024-09-20
Monitoring stations: 1