Pomme de Terre L. Lake is a 7,820-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hickory 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 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Hickory County, Pomme de Terre L. Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Pomme de Terre L. Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Pomme de Terre L. Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 268 samples across 8 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Missouri’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 4.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.8 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 25 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.2 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 7,820 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Pomme de Terre L. Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pomme de Terre L. Lake in Hickory 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Pomme de Terre L. Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Pomme de Terre L. Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Pomme de Terre L. Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Missouri’s top lakes →
Fishing Pomme de Terre L. Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.093 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.6 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.99 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Pomme de Terre L. Lake averages about 84°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 86°F) and coldest in Apr (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 117 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pomme de Terre L. Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 10 lakes in Hickory County
Nearby Lakes in Hickory County
Explore Pomme de Terre L. Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Missouri
Benton County · Clarity: 3.8 ft
Dade County · Clarity: 4.3 ft
Camden County · Clarity: 3 ft
Camden County · Fair
Camden County · Clarity: 3.9 ft
Morgan County · Clarity: 4.2 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Compare Pomme de Terre L. Lake With Nearby Lakes
Benton County · Grade C
Hickory County · Grade D
Hickory County · Grade D
Hickory County · Grade F
Hickory County · Grade F
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Pomme de Terre L. Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Pomme De Terre Dam (completed 1961), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the POMME DE TERRE RIVER; rockfill-type dam, 155 ft tall and 4,630 ft long.
- Surface area
- 7,820 ac
- Normal storage
- 230,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 650,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 611 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Kansas City District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30201 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.73 km)
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 Pomme de Terre L. Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Uscoe Damsite Pua EastHermitage · 0.6 mi away · NPDES MO0030295Recent 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
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: 2024-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1