Lake Wappapello Nr. Dam is a 23,200-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wayne 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 9 public boat landings. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Wayne County, Lake Wappapello Nr. Dam ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-14. 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 1.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 50.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 34.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.8 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 50.7 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 34.9 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 23,200 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Wappapello Nr. Dam
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Fishing Lake Wappapello Nr. Dam
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.008 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -5.04 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -8.84 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Lake Wappapello Nr. Dam averages about 84°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 86°F) and coldest in May (about 73°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 101 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Wappapello Nr. Dam water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Wayne County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Wappapello Nr. Dam holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Wayne County
Explore Lake Wappapello Nr. Dam across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Iron County · Clarity: 2.8 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 1 ft
Franklin County · Clarity: 2.6 ft
St. Louis city County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
St. Louis County · Clarity: 2.5 ft
St. Louis County · Clarity: 1.8 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Compare Lake Wappapello Nr. Dam With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Wappapello Nr. Dam is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Wappapello Dam (completed 1941), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the ST. FRANCIS RIVER; earth-type dam, 114 ft tall and 2,700 ft long.
- Surface area
- 23,200 ac
- Normal storage
- 613,200 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,134,600 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,310 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - St. Louis District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Other;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30204 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.38 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
10 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Wappapello Nr. Dam under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 5 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Lakeview Residential Care WwtfWappapello · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MO0127477Recent violation
- Shepard WwtfWappapello · 1.9 mi away · NPDES MO0130745Recent violation
- Lake Wappapello Vfw Post 3416 WwtfWappapello · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MO0133647Recent violation
- Camp At Lake Wappapello WwtfWappapello · 2.9 mi away · NPDES MO0138673Recent violation
- Mingo Job Corps WwtfPuxico · 4.1 mi away · NPDES MO0100404Recent violation
- Usace, Wappapello Lake WwtfWappapello · 0.6 mi away · NPDES MO0124621
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: 2024-08-14
Monitoring stations: 2