Sterling Price Lake
Chariton County, WisconsinHypereutrophic
Sterling Price Lake is a 35-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Chariton County, MO. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2022. 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, local state DNR records, last sampled 2022-08-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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 |
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
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Wisconsin
St. Louis County · Clarity: 1.6 ft
Jackson County · Clarity: 2 ft
St. Charles County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 1.1 ft
Saline County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
Polk County · Clarity: 1.2 ft
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
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)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-08-31
Monitoring stations: 1