Pomme de Terre Lake is a 7,820-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Hickory County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Hickory County, Pomme de Terre Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2022-05-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Pomme de Terre Lake Water Quality Report Card (2026)
A printable one-page report card for Pomme de Terre Lake: grade, clarity, phosphorus, algae, multi-year trend, depth, and fish — with sources.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 89 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 254 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 76.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 89 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 254 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 76 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 7,820 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Pomme de Terre Lake
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Fishing Pomme de Terre Lake
Recreation & Access
Current Conditions
Latest reading Jul 6, 2026, 4:30 AM from USGS gauge 06921325. See live data ↗ — readings update every 15–60 minutes; this page refreshes on each build.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 10 lakes in Hickory County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Pomme de Terre Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CPomme de Terre L. LakeHickory County · 3.1 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DPomme de Terre LakeHickory County · 0.2 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DPomme de Terre L. Central Arm LakeHickory County · 2.3 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DPomme de Terre L. LakeHickory County · 3.4 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DPomme de Terre LakeHickory County · 2 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Hickory County
Explore Pomme de Terre 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
Pettis County · Clarity: 1.4 ft
Henry County · Clarity: 0.6 ft
Barton County · Clarity: 1.8 ft
Moniteau County · Very Poor
Barton County · Clarity: 1.8 ft
Barton County · Clarity: 1.9 ft
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Compare Pomme de Terre Lake With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Pomme de Terre 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
EPA Impairment Status
Pomme de Terre 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_7238.00 · 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 Pomme de Terre Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Uscoe Nemo Park WwtpHermitage · 0.2 mi away · NPDES MO0130044
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: 2022-05-31
Monitoring stations: 2