Nodaway Lake is a 73-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Nodaway County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. 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 4 other monitored lakes in Nodaway County, Nodaway Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-07-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 34.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 57 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 34.8 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 73 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Nodaway Lake
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Fishing Nodaway Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.015 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.04 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -7.2 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Nodaway Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 84°F) and coldest in May (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 62 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Nodaway Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 5 lakes in Nodaway County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Nodaway Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CMozingo Lake Between ArmsNodaway County · 6.8 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CHappy Holler LakeAndrew County · 28.5 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- DBilby Ranch LakeNodaway County · 15.4 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Nodaway County
Explore Nodaway Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Nodaway Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Nodaway Lake Dam (completed 1966), built primarily for recreation on the TR-CANAL BRANCH; earth-type dam, 55 ft tall and 1,480 ft long.
- Surface area
- 73 ac
- Normal storage
- 530 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,716 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.14 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
All listed purposes: Recreation;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10178 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Nodaway 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_7076.00 · 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 Nodaway Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Pickering WwtfPickering · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MO0130133Recent 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)
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: 2024-07-30
Monitoring stations: 2