The State of Missouri’s Lakes 2026

Cleanest lakes in Missouri

Highest combined water-quality score, 2026.

1. 1.ALake Capri — St. Francois County16.3 ft clarity · 6 µg/L P · 1 µg/L chl-a
2. 2.ALake Shayne-Terre du Lac Lakes — Washington County11.1 ft clarity · 5 µg/L P · 1 µg/L chl-a
3. 3.ALake Marseilles-Terre du Lac Lakes — St. Francois County14.1 ft clarity · 7 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
4. 4.ACouncil Bluff Lake — Iron County13.1 ft clarity · 5 µg/L P · 1 µg/L chl-a
5. 5.ALake Taneycomo Nr. Roark Cr. — Taney County12.6 ft clarity · 15 µg/L P · 1 µg/L chl-a
6. 6.ALake Wauwanoka Nr. Dam — Jefferson County12.9 ft clarity · 8 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
7. 7.AAlpine Lake — Warren County12.6 ft clarity · 7 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
8. 8.AMccormack Lake — Oregon County11.7 ft clarity · 6 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
9. 9.ATimberline Lakes — St. Francois County14.3 ft clarity · 6 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
10. 10.ALake Taneycomo Ab. Bee Cr. Arm — Taney County13.3 ft clarity · 13 µg/L P · 1 µg/L chl-a

Most-polluted lakes

Lowest combined water-quality score among monitored lakes.

1. 1.FNorth Lake — Cass County1.6 ft clarity · 152 µg/L P · 60 µg/L chl-a
2. 2.FDrexel City Reservoir South Nr. Dam — Bates County0.9 ft clarity · 194 µg/L P · 153 µg/L chl-a
3. 3.FCreve Coeur Lake — St. Louis County1.6 ft clarity · 101 µg/L P · 35 µg/L chl-a
4. 4.FJackrabbit Lake — Jackson County1.5 ft clarity · 148 µg/L P · 40 µg/L chl-a
5. 5.FKoeneman Park Lake — St. Louis County3.1 ft clarity · 271 µg/L P · 36 µg/L chl-a
6. 6.FCameron Lake Deep Site — DeKalb County1.9 ft clarity · 103 µg/L P · 34 µg/L chl-a
7. 7.FHemitite Lake — St. Francois County1.1 ft clarity · 187 µg/L P · 92 µg/L chl-a
8. 8.FVandalia Community Lake — Audrain County1.8 ft clarity · 110 µg/L P · 42 µg/L chl-a
9. 9.FLamar City Lk. Nr. Upper End Lake — Barton County1.8 ft clarity · 106 µg/L P · 64 µg/L chl-a
10. 10.FNell Lake — Jackson County1.3 ft clarity · 133 µg/L P · 67 µg/L chl-a

Worst algae hotspots

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

1. 1.FLake Wooldridge — Saline County778 µg/L chlorophyll-a
2. 2.FPomme de Terre Lake — Hickory County361 µg/L chlorophyll-a
3. 3.FBee Tree Lake — St. Louis County296 µg/L chlorophyll-a
4. 4.FPomme de Terre Lake — Hickory County254 µg/L chlorophyll-a
5. 5.FKnox Village Lake — Jackson County194 µg/L chlorophyll-a
6. 6.FMckay Park Lake — Cole County187 µg/L chlorophyll-a
7. 7.FCrowder S.P. Lake — Grundy County176 µg/L chlorophyll-a
8. 8.FLimpp Lake — Gentry County167 µg/L chlorophyll-a
9. 9.FLoose Park Lake — Jackson County160 µg/L chlorophyll-a
10. 10.FDrexel City Reservoir South Nr. Dam — Bates County153 µg/L chlorophyll-a

Trending lakes

Improving

1. 1.ALake Capri — St. Francois County
2. 2.ALake Shayne-Terre du Lac Lakes — Washington County
3. 3.ALake Marseilles-Terre du Lac Lakes — St. Francois County
4. 4.ALake Taneycomo Nr. Roark Cr. — Taney County
5. 5.AAlpine Lake — Warren County
6. 6.BFox Valley Lake — Clark County
7. 7.BTable Rock Lk. Into Main Channel From Dam Lake — Stone County
8. 8.BLake Konstanz — Warren County

Declining

1. 1.FCreve Coeur Lake — St. Louis County
2. 2.FJackrabbit Lake — Jackson County
3. 3.FHemitite Lake — St. Francois County
4. 4.FNell Lake — Jackson County
5. 5.FSpanish Lake — St. Louis County
6. 6.FKing Lake — DeKalb County
7. 7.FCreve Coeur Lake Nr. Boat Ramp — St. Louis County
8. 8.FMontrose Lake — Henry County