Jackson County, Missouri · Water Quality Report Card
Prairie Lee Lake
Prairie Lee Lake in Jackson County, Missouri has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 43 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Mean depth
- ~13 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Prairie Lee Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri with an estimated average depth of about 13 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Prairie Lee Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Prairie Lee Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Swim with caution, moderate algae may be present
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 43 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 18.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | |
| Phosphorus | 43 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~13 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Missouri has not published bathymetry for Prairie Lee Lake.
Where to stay near Prairie Lee Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Prairie Lee Lake in Jackson 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 Prairie Lee 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 Prairie Lee Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Prairie Lee Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Missouri’s top lakes →
Fishing Prairie Lee Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.025 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.1 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 23 lakes in Jackson County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Prairie Lee Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BJacomo LakeJackson County · 3.5 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
- BLotawana LakeJackson County · 4.4 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Explore Prairie Lee Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Where this data comes from
69 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC69 samples · 2022–2024
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
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds come from the U.S. EPA National Lakes Assessment 2022 Technical Support Document (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion
Most recent sample: 2024-09-20
Monitoring stations: 1