Ripley County Lake is a 20-acre mesotrophic lake in Ripley County, Missouri. Water quality is graded B based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Ripley County, Ripley County Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2023-08-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Murky, only visible to about 6.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.6 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.6 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
Where to stay near Ripley County Lake
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Fishing Ripley County Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.355 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.75 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.4 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Ripley County Lake averages about 85°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 88°F) and coldest in Jun (about 82°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2015–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ripley County Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Ripley County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Ripley County Lake holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- AFourche Creek LakeRipley County · 5.6 mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- AMccormack LakeOregon County · 24.6 mi · Higher grade (B → A)
Nearby Lakes in Ripley County
Explore Ripley County Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Missouri
Wayne County · Clarity: 5.7 ft
Perry County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Perry County · Clarity: 7.4 ft
Jefferson County · Clarity: 18.5 ft
Franklin County · Clarity: 5.9 ft
Taney County · Clarity: 8.1 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Ripley County Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Ripley County Lake Dam (completed 1958), built primarily for recreation on the BRIAR CREEK; earth-type dam, 27 ft tall and 880 ft long.
- Surface area
- 20 ac
- Normal storage
- 160 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 206 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 192 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- USDA FS
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30053 · Operator website
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-08-16
Monitoring stations: 1