Stephens Lake
Boone County, Missouri11 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Limited data
Stephens Lake in Boone County, Missouri is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 39.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.9 µg/L. Surface area: 11 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.6 ft
- Typical in September
- 77°F
- Area
- 11 acres
- Phosphorus
- 39.7 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 19.9 µg/L
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Stays near Stephens Lake
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Watch Stephens Lake’s letter
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Why Stephens Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Stephens Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by Missouri DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Stephens Lake is a 11-acre lake in Boone County, Missouri.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2020-09-04. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Stephens Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 39.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 19.9 µg/L. TSI 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 39.7 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19.9 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Stephens Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 84°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in Apr (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 41 field readings (2012–2020) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Stephens Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Stephens Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Stephens Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Stephens Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Stephens Lake Dam (completed 1939), built primarily for recreation on the TR HINKSON CREEK; earth-type dam, 23 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 11 ac
- Normal storage
- 63 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 135 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 40 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- STEPHENS COLLEGE
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO11172 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
16 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Stephens Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Mathis Mobile Home ParkColumbia · 3.7 mi away · NPDES MO0099198Recent violation
- Gaslight Industrial ParkColumbia · 4 mi away · NPDES MO0089532Recent violation
- Crowley SubdivisionColumbia · 4.5 mi away · NPDES MO0082147Recent violation
- Boone Co Reg Sewer DistColumbia · 4.7 mi away · NPDES MO0096539Recent violation
- Columbia Municipal Power PlantColumbia · 1 mi away · NPDES MO0004979
- Fedex Express - CouaColumbia · 1.1 mi away · NPDES MONX00531
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.
Graded lakes near Stephens Lake
Stephens Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Boone County
Frequently asked questions about Stephens Lake
Where is Stephens Lake?
- Stephens Lake is a lake in Boone County, Missouri. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for Stephens Lake?
- Stephens Lake in Boone County, Missouri is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 39.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.9 µg/L. Surface area: 11 acres.
Is Stephens Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Stephens Lake?
- Stephens Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in September, from 41 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2012–2020). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Stephens Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC3 samples · 2020
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)