Shepard Mountain Lake Intake is a 21-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Iron County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Shepard Mountain Lake Intake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2020-09-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 37 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 18.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 37 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.3 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
Where to stay near Shepard Mountain Lake Intake
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Fishing Shepard Mountain Lake Intake
Water Temperature
Shepard Mountain Lake Intake averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°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 33 field readings (2012–2020) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Shepard Mountain Lake Intake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Iron County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Shepard Mountain Lake Intake holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ALake CapriSt. Francois County · 21.2 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → A)
- ACouncil Bluff LakeIron County · 16.7 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → A)
- ALake Marseilles-Terre du Lac LakesSt. Francois County · 21.1 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → A)
- ALake Shayne-Terre du Lac LakesWashington County · 21.2 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → A)
- ATimberline LakesSt. Francois County · 28.4 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → A)
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
Explore Shepard Mountain Lake Intake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Washington County · Clarity: 1 ft
Wayne County · Clarity: 1.3 ft
Wayne County · Clarity: 1.8 ft
Franklin County · Clarity: 2.6 ft
Crawford County · Clarity: 3.4 ft
St. Louis County · Clarity: 2.5 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Shepard Mountain Lake Intake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Shepard Mountain Dam (completed 1955), built primarily for recreation on the TR-STOUTS CREEK; gravity-type dam, 33 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 21 ac
- Normal storage
- 168 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 371 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4,525 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF IRONTON
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30324 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.04 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Shepard Mountain Lake Intake 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_7333.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.33 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Shepard Mountain Lake Intake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 5 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Arcadia West WwtfArcadia · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MO0050687Recent violation
- Arcadia East WwtfArcadia · 1.9 mi away · NPDES MO0080667Recent violation
- Mawc, Ironton WwtfIronton · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MO0026514Recent violation
- The Baptist Home WwtfIronton · 3 mi away · NPDES MO0051217Recent violation
- Stricklin WwtfIronton · 4.2 mi away · NPDES MO0122319Recent 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.
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)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2020-09-01
Monitoring stations: 1