Rothwell Lake
Randolph County, Missouri26 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #3 of 7 in the county
- Public access
Rothwell Lake in Randolph County, Missouri has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.2 µg/L. Surface area: 26 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Typical in September
- 74°F
- Area
- 26 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 32 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 14.2 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Rothwell Lake’s letter
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Rothwell Lake is a 26-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Randolph County, Missouri. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Randolph County, Rothwell Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Rothwell 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 3.6 ft. Phosphorus 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 14.2 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 32 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.2 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Rothwell Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 79°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in Apr (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 105 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Rothwell Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Rothwell Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Rothwell Park Lake (Moberly)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Rothwell Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.226 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.33 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.81 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Rothwell Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Rothwell Lake Dam (completed 1902), built primarily for recreation on the TRIBUTARY TO SWEET SPRING CRK; earth-type dam, 29 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 26 ac
- Normal storage
- 156 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 403 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 458 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MOBERLY PARKS & RECREATN
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10004 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Rothwell Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Wilson Trailer Company - Plant 6Moberly · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MONX00822
- Everlast Fitness Mfg CorpMoberly · 1.9 mi away · NPDES MONX00640
- Vitalix, Inc.Moberly · 1.9 mi away · NPDES MONX00998
- Walmart Distribution Center #6077Moberly · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MONX00035
- Air Evac 119 MoberlyMoberly · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MONX00365
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 #3 of 7 lakes in Randolph County
Nearby Lakes in Randolph County
Frequently asked questions about Rothwell Lake
Where is Rothwell Lake?
- Rothwell Lake is a lake in Randolph County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Rothwell Lake?
- Rothwell Lake in Randolph County, Missouri has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.2 µg/L. Surface area: 26 acres.
Is Rothwell 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 Rothwell Lake?
- Rothwell Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in September, from 105 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Rothwell Lake?
- Rothwell Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Rothwell Park Lake (Moberly). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Rothwell Lake across LakeQuality
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
121 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC121 samples · 2020–2024
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 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