Loto Upstream of Dam Lake is a 55,342-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Miller County, Missouri. Water quality is graded B based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Miller County, Loto Upstream of Dam Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 28.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.7 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | 28.1 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.2 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 55,342 acres |
Where to stay near Loto Upstream of Dam Lake
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Fishing Loto Upstream of Dam Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.162 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.04 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.91 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Loto Upstream of Dam Lake averages about 82°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in Apr (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 69 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Loto Upstream of Dam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 8 lakes in Miller County
Nearby Lakes in Miller County
Explore Loto Upstream of Dam 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 B Lakes in Missouri
Compare Loto Upstream of Dam Lake With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Loto Upstream of Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Bagnell (completed 1931), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Osage River; gravity-type dam, 148 ft tall and 2,543 ft long.
- Surface area
- 55,342 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,926,800 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,677,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 14,000 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Union Electric Company
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Recreation;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30014 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.79 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Loto Upstream of Dam Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Spinnaker Point Condos WwtfLake Ozark · 0.7 mi away · NPDES MO0105864Recent violation
- Bob White Point-Lot 4 WwtfLake Ozark · 0.7 mi away · NPDES MO0121070
- Frisbie Land Development WwtpEldon · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MO0125008
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
Most recent sample: 2024-09-25
Monitoring stations: 1