Perry City Lake is a 16-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Ralls County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Ralls County, Perry City Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2025-07-28. 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
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 240 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 83.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 240 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 83 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Perry City Lake
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Fishing Perry City Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Perry City Lake averages about 83°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 87°F) and coldest in May (about 76°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 20 field readings (2013–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Perry City Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in Ralls County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Perry City Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- AOasis Ranch LakeAudrain County · 16.1 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- CMark Twain Lake by Hwy JRalls County · 6.9 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CMark Twain LakeMonroe County · 7.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CMark Twain Lake Indian Creek ArmRalls County · 8.1 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DMark Twain LakeRalls County · 7.1 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Ralls County
Explore Perry City 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
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Perry City Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Perry City Dam - Lower (completed 1964), built primarily for water supply on the MACE BRANCH LICK CREEK; earth-type dam, 26 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 16 ac
- Normal storage
- 61 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 223 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,583 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF PERRY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10675 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.11 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Perry City 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_7047.00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Perry City Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Perry WwtfPerry · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MO0111821Recent violation
- Land 4 Boats WwtfPerry · 2.2 mi away · NPDES MO0123846Recent violation
- Riedel Energy IncPerry · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MO0099848
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: 2025-07-28
Monitoring stations: 1