North Bethany City Reservoir is a 76-acre mesotrophic lake in Harrison County, Missouri. Water quality is graded B based on 3 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Harrison County, North Bethany City Reservoir ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2022-10-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.9 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near North Bethany City Reservoir
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Fishing North Bethany City Reservoir
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
North Bethany City Reservoir averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 82°F) and coldest in May (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 17 field readings (2015–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full North Bethany City Reservoir water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Harrison County
Nearby Lakes in Harrison County
Explore North Bethany City Reservoir across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Missouri
Mesotrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
North Bethany City Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the City of Bethany Dam (completed 1960), built primarily for water supply on the TRIBUTARY TO WEST FORK BIG CK; earth-type dam, 60 ft tall and 1,000 ft long.
- Surface area
- 76 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,820 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,850 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.15 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF BETHANY
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10071 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.09 km)
EPA Impairment Status
North Bethany City Reservoir 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_7109.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.38 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of North Bethany City Reservoir under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Bethany WwtfBethany · 4.4 mi away · NPDES MO0033502Recent violation
- Bethany Army Reserve Center (Arc)Bethany · 3.4 mi away · NPDES MONX00241
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: 2022-10-12
Monitoring stations: 1