Stockton Lake is a 24,900-acre mesotrophic lake in Cedar County, Missouri. Water quality is graded B based on 3 sampling years through 2020. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Cedar County, Stockton Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2020-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Stockton Lake Water Quality Report Card (2026)
A printable one-page report card for Stockton Lake: grade, clarity, phosphorus, algae, multi-year trend, depth, and fish — with sources.
Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Stockton Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 281 samples across 8 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Missouri’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Murky, only visible to about 5.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 9.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.8 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 9.8 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 24,900 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Stockton Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Stockton Lake in Cedar County, Missouri — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Fishing Stockton Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Recreation & Access
Current Conditions
Latest reading Jul 6, 2026, 4:30 AM from USGS gauge 06918990. See live data ↗ — readings update every 15–60 minutes; this page refreshes on each build.
Water Temperature
Stockton Lake averages about 83°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 86°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 45 field readings (2010–2020) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Cedar County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Stockton Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Cedar County
Explore Stockton Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Missouri
Greene County · Clarity: 7.2 ft
Greene County · Clarity: 4.2 ft
Stone County · Clarity: 4.4 ft
Stone County · Clarity: 4.3 ft
Stone County · Clarity: 6 ft
Stone County · Clarity: 4.9 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Missouri
Compare Stockton Lake With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Stockton Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Stockton Dam (completed 1969), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the SAC RIVER; rockfill-type dam, 153 ft tall and 6,100 ft long.
- Surface area
- 24,900 ac
- Normal storage
- 892,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,674,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,160 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Kansas City District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Other;Irrigation;Navigation;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation;Hydroelectric;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30200 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Stockton Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Mdnr Stockton State Park WwtfDadeville · 1 mi away · NPDES MO0135933Recent violation
- American Resort Subdivision WwtfStockton · 3.5 mi away · NPDES MO0093220Recent violation
- Pleasant View Estates Hoa WwtfStockton · 3.8 mi away · NPDES MO0119628Recent 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2020-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1