Lake Wauwanoka Nr. Dam is a 86-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Jefferson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Jefferson County, Lake Wauwanoka Nr. Dam ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 12.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.9 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 8 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.7 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 86 acres |
Where to stay near Lake Wauwanoka Nr. Dam
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Fishing Lake Wauwanoka Nr. Dam
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.08 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.15 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.07 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Lake Wauwanoka Nr. Dam averages about 84°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 87°F) and coldest in Apr (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 75 field readings (2015–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Wauwanoka Nr. Dam water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 7 lakes in Jefferson County
Nearby Lakes in Jefferson County
Explore Lake Wauwanoka Nr. Dam across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Missouri's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Missouri
St. Francois County · Clarity: 14.3 ft
Ste. Genevieve County · Clarity: 9.9 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 16.3 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 14.1 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 11.1 ft
Iron County · Clarity: 13.1 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Wauwanoka Nr. Dam is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Wauwanoka Dam (completed 1942), built primarily for recreation on the DRY CREEK; earth-type dam, 60 ft tall and 1,045 ft long.
- Surface area
- 86 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,370 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,800 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.06 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- LAKE WAUWANOKA, INC
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30080 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.08 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Wauwanoka Nr. Dam 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_7258.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.66 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
33 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Wauwanoka Nr. Dam under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 24 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- De Soto WwtpDe Soto · 4.7 mi away · NPDES MO0026662MajorRecent violation
- Lake Wauwanoka Subdivision WwtpHillsboro · 0.3 mi away · NPDES MO0034088Recent violation
- Pioneer Trail Trustee AssociationHillsboro · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MO0105562Recent violation
- Jcpsd Mockingbird Subdivision WwtfHillsboro · 2 mi away · NPDES MO0089362Recent violation
- Jcpsd Edgewood Heights WwtfFestus · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MO0045535Recent violation
- Developmental Disability AdvocatesFestus · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MO0091065Recent 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
Most recent sample: 2024-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1