Whiteside Lake
Lincoln County, Missouri20 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- Public access
Whiteside Lake in Lincoln County, Missouri has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.7 µg/L. Surface area: 20 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Typical in September
- 71°F
- Area
- 20 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 26 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 14.7 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Whiteside Lake’s letter
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Whiteside Lake is a 20-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lincoln County, Missouri. Water quality is graded C based on 2 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 1 other monitored lakes in Lincoln County, Whiteside Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-05-03. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Whiteside Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 14.7 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Whiteside Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 82°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in Sep (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 20 field readings (2012–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Whiteside Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Whiteside Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- William G. and Erma Parke White Memorial Wildlife AreaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Whiteside Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.67 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -15 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -11.2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Whiteside Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the White Lake Dam (completed 1980), built primarily for recreation on the MILL CREEK TRIBUTARY; earth-type dam, 40 ft tall and 1,000 ft long.
- Surface area
- 20 ac
- Normal storage
- 205 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 458 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO12220 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.07 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Whiteside Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Silex WwtfSilex · 3.9 mi away · NPDES MO0108243Recent violation
- Eolia WwtfEolia · 4 mi away · NPDES MO0112470Recent 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Lincoln County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Whiteside Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Whiteside Lake
Where is Whiteside Lake?
- Whiteside Lake is a lake in Lincoln County, Missouri. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Whiteside Lake?
- Whiteside Lake in Lincoln County, Missouri has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.7 µg/L. Surface area: 20 acres.
Is Whiteside Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Whiteside Lake?
- Whiteside Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September, from 20 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2012–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Whiteside Lake?
- Whiteside Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include William G. and Erma Parke White Memorial Wildlife Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Whiteside Lake across LakeQuality
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC36 samples · 2022–2024
Analytical methods
- Depth, Secchi disk in meters
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory