Little Dixie Lk. Lake is a 196-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Callaway County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 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 2 other monitored lakes in Callaway County, Little Dixie Lk. Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 67 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 36.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.7 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 67 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 36.4 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 196 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Little Dixie Lk. Lake
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Fishing Little Dixie Lk. Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.021 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.76 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.53 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Little Dixie Lk. Lake averages about 82°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 86°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 95 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Dixie Lk. Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Callaway County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Little Dixie Lk. Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BLake of the WoodsBoone County · 7.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- CPhillips LakeBoone County · 9.2 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CBethel LakeBoone County · 11.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CQuarry Heights LakeBoone County · 12.2 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DStephens LakeBoone County · 10.5 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Callaway County
Explore Little Dixie Lk. Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Little Dixie Lk. Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Little Dixie Lake Dam (completed 1958), built primarily for recreation on the OWL CREEK; earth-type dam, 42 ft tall and 1,850 ft long.
- Surface area
- 196 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,075 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,849 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.61 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
All listed purposes: Recreation;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10888 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Little Dixie Lk. Lake 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_7180.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.93 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
20 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Little Dixie Lk. Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 10 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Larry NealFulton · 0.4 mi away · NPDES MO0113158Recent violation
- Little Dixie Mhp WwtfFulton · 0.6 mi away · NPDES MO0114979Recent violation
- Saratoga Subdivision WwtfFulton · 1.1 mi away · NPDES MO0112569Recent violation
- Country East Subdivision WwtfFulton · 1.1 mi away · NPDES MO0116742Recent violation
- County Line Estates WwtfFulton · 1.9 mi away · NPDES MO0116301Recent violation
- Lake Chateau Subdivision WwtfColumbia · 3 mi away · NPDES MO0108332Recent 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: 2024-08-02
Monitoring stations: 1