Sterling Price Lake is a 35-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Chariton County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Chariton County, Sterling Price Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2022-08-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 128.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 78.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 73.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 128.5 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 78.8 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 73 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Sterling Price Lake
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Fishing Sterling Price Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.05 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -39.8 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +4.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Sterling Price Lake averages about 85°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 87°F) and coldest in Jun (about 83°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2021–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sterling Price Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Chariton County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Sterling Price Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BLake Nehai TonkayeaChariton County · 13.4 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- CMarceline City Lake New Nr. DamChariton County · 19.9 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- COld ReservoirRandolph County · 20.2 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CThomas Hill Lake @ Hwy TMacon County · 19.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DPeters LakeHoward County · 17.3 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Chariton County
Explore Sterling Price Lake across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Sterling Price Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Sterling Price Lake Dam (completed 1958), built primarily for recreation on the TR-PUZZLE CREEK; earth-type dam, 21 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 35 ac
- Normal storage
- 187 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 393 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 410 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10103 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Sterling Price Lake 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_7149.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.22 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
6 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Sterling Price Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Salisbury S 2.4 Ac LagoonSalisbury · 2.8 mi away · NPDES MO0025321Recent violation
- Salisbury WwtfSalisbury · 2.9 mi away · NPDES MO0025313Recent violation
- Bha Altair, LlcSalisbury · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MONX00709
- Salisbury Wastewater Treatment PlantSalisbury · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MO0056634
- Parker-Hannifin CorporationSalisbury · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MONX00788
- Salisbury Circleview SubdSalisbury · 3.4 mi away · NPDES MO0087874
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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-08-31
Monitoring stations: 1