Montrose Lake is a 1,700-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Henry County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2022-08-16. 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 0.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 266 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 61.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 80.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 266 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 61.9 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 80 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,700 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Montrose Lake
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Fishing Montrose Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.13 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +154.8 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Montrose Lake averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jun (about 81°F) and coldest in Jul (about 78°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2021–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Montrose Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Henry County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Montrose Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Henry County
Explore Montrose 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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More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Montrose Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Montrose Lake Dam (completed 1955), built primarily for recreation on the DEEPWATER CREEK; earth-type dam, 33 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 1,700 ac
- Normal storage
- 11,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 30,014 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 91,000 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- KANSAS CITY POWER & LITE
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO20151 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Montrose 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_7208.00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Montrose Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Montrose StationClinton · 1 mi away · NPDES MO0101117
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)
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: 2022-08-16
Monitoring stations: 1