Phillips Lake is a 33-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Boone County, Missouri. Water quality is graded C 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 11 other monitored lakes in Boone County, Phillips Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-11-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Phillips Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 35.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 35.5 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.8 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 33 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Phillips Lake
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Fishing Phillips Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.068 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.7 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.53 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Phillips Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in Apr (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 80 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Phillips Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 12 lakes in Boone County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Phillips Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Boone County
Explore Phillips Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Phillips Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Philips Park Lake Dam (completed 1965), built primarily for recreation on the TR-CLEAR CREEK; earth-type dam, 46 ft tall and 985 ft long.
- Surface area
- 33 ac
- Normal storage
- 653 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 653 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.56 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- THE CITY OF COLUMBIA
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10019 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.08 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Phillips 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_7628.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.21 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
13 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Phillips Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 5 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Usdoi, Columbia Env. Research Cntr WwtfColumbia · 1.2 mi away · NPDES MO0003999Recent violation
- Woodstock Mobile Home ParkColumbia · 1.4 mi away · NPDES MO0082066Recent violation
- Magellan Pipeline Co, L.P. - ColumbiaColumbia · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MO0106402Recent violation
- Bonne Femme MhcColumbia · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MO0126977Recent violation
- High Hill Circle Mhp WwtfColumbia · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MO0100625Recent violation
- University Of Missouri Komu Tv 8 WwtfColumbia · 1.4 mi away · NPDES MO0123901
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: 2024-11-15
Monitoring stations: 1