Long Branch L. Lake is a 2,430-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Macon County, Missouri. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Macon County, Long Branch L. Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2020-08-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Long Branch L. Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 36 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 36 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 2,430 acres |
Where to stay near Long Branch L. Lake
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Fishing Long Branch L. Lake
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 | → Stable | +0.1 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.84 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Long Branch L. Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in Apr (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (2016–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Macon County
Nearby Lakes in Macon County
Explore Long Branch L. Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Missouri
Randolph County · Clarity: 3.6 ft
Randolph County · Clarity: 3.6 ft
Adair County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
Chariton County · Clarity: 3.5 ft
Adair County · Clarity: 3.6 ft
Adair County · Clarity: 2.8 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Compare Long Branch L. Lake With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Long Branch L. Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Long Branch Dam (completed 1978), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the EAST FORK LITTLE CHARITON; earth-type dam, 80 ft tall and 3,800 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,430 ac
- Normal storage
- 35,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 98,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 109 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Kansas City District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Other;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO11176 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.56 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Long Branch L. 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_7168.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.7 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2020-08-24
Monitoring stations: 1