Mckay Park Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Cole County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Cole County, Mckay Park Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2022-10-04. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 187.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 75.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 70 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 187.1 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 75 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Mckay Park Lake
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Fishing Mckay Park Lake
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Cole County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Mckay Park Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CMckee PondBoone County · 8.4 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CPhillips LakeBoone County · 23.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DBen Branch Lake by DamOsage County · 21.9 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DBinder LakeCole County · 6.4 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Cole County
Explore Mckay Park Lake across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Mckay Park 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_7399.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.04 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
30 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Mckay Park Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 11 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Jefferson City RwrfJefferson City · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MO0094846Major
- Mawc Stiefferman Subdivision WwtpJefferson City · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MO0097004Recent violation
- Missouri Dept Of TransportationJefferson City · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MO0137910Recent violation
- Mawc Sleepy Hollow Estates WwtfJefferson City · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MO0108146Recent violation
- Valley View MhcJefferson City · 2.8 mi away · NPDES MO0088960Recent violation
- Royal Oaks MhcJefferson City · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MO0049484Recent violation
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)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-10-04
Monitoring stations: 1