Port Hudson Lake
Franklin County, Missouri55 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 3 in the county
- Public access
Port Hudson Lake in Franklin County, Missouri has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L. Surface area: 55 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.1 ft
- Typical in September
- 78°F
- Area
- 55 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Port Hudson Lake’s letter
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Port Hudson Lake is a 55-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Franklin County, Missouri. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Franklin County, Port Hudson Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2022-08-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Port Hudson Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6.1 ft. Phosphorus 20.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.5 µg/L. TSI 50. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Port Hudson Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 85°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 86°F) and coldest in May (about 74°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 17 field readings (2019–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Port Hudson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 55 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Port Hudson Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Port Hudson Lake Conservation AreaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Port Hudson Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.19 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.35 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.3 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Port Hudson Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Port Hudson Lake Dam (completed 1992), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the CEDAR FORK; earth-type dam, 48 ft tall and 1,080 ft long.
- Surface area
- 55 ac
- Normal storage
- 663 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 663 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.63 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
All listed purposes: Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO31981 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Port Hudson Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Leslie WwtpLeslie · 4.4 mi away · NPDES MO0127809Recent 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Franklin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Port Hudson Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Franklin County
Frequently asked questions about Port Hudson Lake
Where is Port Hudson Lake?
- Port Hudson Lake is a lake in Franklin County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Port Hudson Lake?
- Port Hudson Lake in Franklin County, Missouri has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L. Surface area: 55 acres.
Is Port Hudson Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Port Hudson Lake?
- Port Hudson Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in September, from 17 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Port Hudson Lake?
- Port Hudson Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Port Hudson Lake Conservation Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Port Hudson Lake across LakeQuality
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
64 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC60 samples · 2020–2022 - Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources
MDNR4 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Depth, Secchi disk in meters
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- Nitrogen and Phosphorus, Total, Whole-water, Alkaline Persulfate Digest
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory