Vandalia Community Lake is a 38-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Audrain County, Missouri. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Audrain County, Vandalia Community Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-10. 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 1.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 110 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 42 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.8 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 110 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 42 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Vandalia Community Lake
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Fishing Vandalia Community Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.005 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.5 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.39 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Vandalia Community Lake averages about 82°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in Apr (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 40 field readings (2012–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Vandalia Community Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Audrain County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Vandalia Community Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- AOasis Ranch Upper LakeAudrain County · 13.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- AOasis Ranch LakeAudrain County · 13.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- CBowling Green LakePike County · 21.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CMark Twain Lake by Hwy JRalls County · 20.5 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DMark Twain LakeRalls County · 20.6 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Audrain County
Explore Vandalia Community Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Vandalia Community Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Vandalia Community Lake Dam (completed 1956), built primarily for recreation on the TR-HICKORY CREEK; earth-type dam, 21 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 38 ac
- Normal storage
- 222 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 427 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 503 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10296 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Vandalia Community 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_7051.00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Vandalia Community Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Farber WwtfFarber · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MO0055409Recent violation
- Harbison-Walker Refractories Vandalia PlVandalia · 4.6 mi away · NPDES MO0000710Recent 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
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: 2024-08-10
Monitoring stations: 1