Loto Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Camden County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 41 other monitored lakes in Camden County, Loto Lake ranks #30 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2023-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Loto Lake occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 6.3% of 207 samples across 6 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Missouri’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 55.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 18.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 55.8 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.5 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Loto Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Loto Lake in Camden County, Missouri — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Fishing Loto Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.047 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.32 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.4 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Loto Lake averages about 85°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 88°F) and coldest in Apr (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 235 field readings (2012–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Loto Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #30 of 42 lakes in Camden County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Loto Lake holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BLoto LakeMiller County · 9.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CLoto LakeCamden County · 4.7 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CLoto LakeCamden County · 7.4 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CLoto LakeCamden County · 8.7 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CLoto LakeCamden County · 9.1 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Camden County
Explore Loto Lake across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Lake of the Ozarks area
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Missouri's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
9 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Loto Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Usa North Recreation AreaLinn Creek · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MO0029769Recent violation
- Mdnr Lake Ozark State Park PB1Kaiser · 0.2 mi away · NPDES MO0097845
- U.S. Army South Recreation Area WwtfLinn Creek · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MO0029777
- Glaize Glenmeadows Subdivision WwtfLinn Creek · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MO0118940
- Brookview Apts Of Osage Beach WwtpKaiser · 4.3 mi away · NPDES MO0103896
- Kaiser Industrial ParkKaiser · 4.4 mi away · NPDES MO0110604
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: 2023-09-20
Monitoring stations: 1