Valley Lake
Jackson County, MissouriView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- #20 of 23 in the county
- Limited data
Valley Lake in Jackson County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 85.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 84.4 µg/L.
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 85.3 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 84.4 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Valley Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Valley Lake in Jackson 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Valley Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Valley Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Valley Lake’s letter
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Valley Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Jackson County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Valley Lake ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria D
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Based on E. coli testing, Valley Lake frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 20% of 10 samples across 4 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: F (Algae-prone)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 85.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 84.4 µg/L. TSI 71. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 85.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 84.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Valley Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 37 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Valley Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Valley Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +15.99 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5.33 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Valley Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Posty CardsKansas City · 1.2 mi away · NPDES MONX00275
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #20 of 23 lakes in Jackson County
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Frequently asked questions about Valley Lake
Where is Valley Lake?
- Valley Lake is a lake in Jackson County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Valley Lake?
- Valley Lake in Jackson County, Missouri has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 85.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 84.4 µg/L.
Is Valley Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Valley Lake frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 20% of 10 samples across 4 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of D — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Valley Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Missouri's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Valley Lake?
- Valley Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 37 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Valley Lake across LakeQuality
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
Missouri's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
29 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- EPA R7
EPA_R7_WQX29 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Nutrient Analysis
- Chlorophyll a
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- Total Nitrogen Calculation
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)