Little Prairie Lake by Dam is a 100-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Phelps County, Missouri. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity 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 Phelps County, Little Prairie Lake by Dam ranks #1 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
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 24.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.9 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 24.5 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.3 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 100 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Little Prairie Lake by Dam
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Fishing Little Prairie Lake by Dam
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.303 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.19 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.03 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Little Prairie Lake by Dam averages about 82°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in May (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 52 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Prairie Lake by Dam water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Phelps County
Nearby Lakes in Phelps County
Explore Little Prairie Lake by Dam across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Missouri
Gasconade County · Clarity: 3.8 ft
Gasconade County · Clarity: 4 ft
Maries County · Clarity: 4.5 ft
Gasconade County · Clarity: 3.9 ft
Franklin County · Clarity: 6.1 ft
Franklin County · Clarity: 3.6 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Little Prairie Lake by Dam is a man-made reservoir impounded by the William E. Towell Dam (completed 1965), built primarily for recreation on the TRIBUTARY OF BOUBEUSE RIVER; earth-type dam, 48 ft tall and 1,450 ft long.
- Surface area
- 100 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,300 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,490 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.41 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30090 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.15 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Little Prairie Lake by 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_7287.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.48 km)
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 Little Prairie Lake by Dam under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 9 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Lakeside CommunityRolla · 0.4 mi away · NPDES MO0118664Recent violation
- Shady Lane Mhp WwtfRolla · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MO0092789Recent violation
- Phelps Connections For Seniors WwtfRolla · 1.2 mi away · NPDES MO0133299Recent violation
- Pcpwsd No. 2 Country Club Terrace WwtpRolla · 2 mi away · NPDES MO0125059Recent violation
- Pcpwsd No 2 Forest Lakes Subd WwtpRolla · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MO0125032Recent violation
- Pcpwsd No. 2, Greenlefe Subdivision WwtfRolla · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MO0125211Recent 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: 2024-08-14
Monitoring stations: 1