Lotawana Lk. Lake is a 480-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 26 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Lotawana Lk. Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2022-08-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lotawana Lk. Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 4.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 31 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.4 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 480 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lotawana Lk. Lake
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Fishing Lotawana Lk. Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.075 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.9 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.6 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Lotawana Lk. Lake averages about 83°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 86°F) and coldest in Apr (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 79 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lotawana Lk. Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 27 lakes in Jackson County
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Explore Lotawana Lk. Lake across LakeGrade
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Other Grade C Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
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More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lotawana Lk. Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Lotawana Dam (completed 1928), built primarily for recreation on the WEST FORK SNI-A-BAR CREEK; earth-type dam, 58 ft tall and 1,650 ft long.
- Surface area
- 480 ac
- Normal storage
- 11,568 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 11,568 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 13.38 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- LAKE LOTAWANA DEV.CORP
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO20040 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lotawana Lk. Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Lake Lotawana Wwtp #1Lake Lotawana · 0.4 mi away · NPDES MO0055425Recent violation
- Sanitary Sewer District #102 WwtpLake Lotawana · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MO0106321Recent violation
- Russo'S Pizza WwtpLee'S Summit · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MO0104876Recent violation
- Barber And Sons AggregatesLee'S Summit · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MO0109771
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
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: 2022-08-30
Monitoring stations: 1