North Lake is a 28-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Cass County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is declining 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 Cass County, North Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-06. 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 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 152 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 60.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 73.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 152 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 60.3 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 73 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 28 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near North Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Lake in Cass County, Missouri — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Fishing North Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.047 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.59 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.76 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
North Lake averages about 83°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in May (about 73°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 58 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full North Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 5 lakes in Cass County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
North Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- FHarrisonville City LakeCass County · 1.9 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- FHarrisonville LakeCass County · 5.7 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- FRaintree LakeCass County · 10.3 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- FCoot LakeJackson County · 12.7 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Explore North 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
Missouri's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
North Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the North Lake Dam (completed 1955), built primarily for recreation on the TR-POLECAT CREEK; earth-type dam, 28 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 28 ac
- Normal storage
- 233 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 419 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,280 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- CITY OF HARRISONVILLE
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO20078 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
North 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_7218.00 · 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 North Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Peculiar WwtpPeculiar · 4.1 mi away · NPDES MO0089443Recent 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: 2024-08-06
Monitoring stations: 2