Little Prairie Lake is a 100-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Phelps County, Missouri. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2021. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Phelps County, Little Prairie Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2021-09-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 54 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.6 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | 54 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.9 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 100 acres |
Where to stay near Little Prairie Lake
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Fishing Little Prairie Lake
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 |
Water Temperature
Little Prairie Lake averages about 83°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 86°F) and coldest in Jun (about 82°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 10 field readings (2016–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Phelps County
Nearby Lakes in Phelps County
Explore Little Prairie Lake 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 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 (0.39 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Little Prairie 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_7287.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.24 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 Little Prairie Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Glado Wastewater Treatment FacilityRolla · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MO0084191Recent violation
- Formerly Little Dixie Truck Port WwtfRolla · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MO0104493Recent violation
- Country Valley HomeSt. James · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MO0088064Recent violation
- Brewer Science, IncRolla · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MONX00017
- Brewer Science, Inc. - Building 3A/8Rolla · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MONX00995
- Mo-Sci CorporationRolla · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MONX00306
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: 2021-09-07
Monitoring stations: 1