Updated Jul 2026
Missouri Lake Water Quality
Water quality grades for 317 monitored lakes across 82 counties.
Across Missouri, 317 lakes carry an active water-quality grade spread over 82 counties. The underlying measurements come from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, alongside federal programs and volunteer monitoring networks. Only about 5% of Missouri's lakes pull an A grade — the smaller, agricultural-watershed lakes that dominate the dataset tend to carry persistent nutrient loads. 52% of lakes fall in the D or F brackets.
The state's lakes lean eutrophic: enough nutrient input to support an active algal community, with the trade-offs in clarity and dissolved oxygen that come with it. The cleanest county on average is Oregon (grade A); the most-stressed is Bates. The gap between the top and bottom counties is large enough that "Missouri lake water quality" hides real local variation.
Grade Distribution
How Missouri’s 317 graded lakes break down from A (excellent) to F.
Top-Graded Missouri Lakes
The highest water-quality grades in Missouri — clarity, depth, and A-F grade at a glance.
Lake Capri
St. Francois County, Missouri
See grade for Lake Capri →Stockton Lake
Cedar County, Missouri
See grade for Stockton Lake →Lake Shayne-Terre du Lac Lakes
Washington County, Missouri
See grade for Lake Shayne-Terre du Lac Lakes →Lake Marseilles-Terre du Lac Lakes
St. Francois County, Missouri
See grade for Lake Marseilles-Terre du Lac Lakes →Council Bluff Lake
Iron County, Missouri
See grade for Council Bluff Lake →Lake Taneycomo Nr. Roark Cr.
Taney County, Missouri
See grade for Lake Taneycomo Nr. Roark Cr. →Lake Wauwanoka Nr. Dam
Jefferson County, Missouri
See grade for Lake Wauwanoka Nr. Dam →Alpine Lake
Warren County, Missouri
See grade for Alpine Lake →Mccormack Lake
Oregon County, Missouri
See grade for Mccormack Lake →Lake Map
Explore Missouri Lakes
Missouri reports, fishing & travel
Missouri's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked A–F
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
Best-graded lakes within 50 miles of St. Louis
Best-graded lakes within 50 miles of Kansas City
Best-graded lakes within 50 miles of Springfield
Reservoirs in Missouri
View all 193 reservoirs →193 of 317 Missouri lakes (61%) are man-made reservoirs in the USACE National Inventory of Dams. 153 carry a High or Significant hazard rating. The oldest matched dam dates to 1870.
EPA-Impaired Lakes in Missouri
View all 135 impaired lakes →135 of 317 Missouri lakes (43%) are officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the most recent EPA ATTAINS reporting cycle. 13 have an approved Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) restoration plan.
Missouri Fishing & Recreation
Licenses, regulations, records, and where to fish across Missouri.
Counties
All 82 Missouri counties, ranked by average lake water quality. Compare them against every county nationwide in the county rankings, browse the full directory of graded lakes, or pick a different state.
Missouri Lake Water Quality Dataset (2026)
Every graded Missouri lake in one spreadsheet — A–F grade, water clarity, phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, trophic state, size, public access, and a link to each lake's report card.
Top 25 Cleanest Lakes
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Capri | St. Francois | A | 16.3 ft |
| 2 | Stockton Lake | Cedar | A | - |
| 3 | Lake Shayne-Terre du Lac Lakes | Washington | A | 11.1 ft |
| 4 | Lake Marseilles-Terre du Lac Lakes | St. Francois | A | 14.1 ft |
| 5 | Council Bluff Lake | Iron | A | 13.1 ft |
| 6 | Lake Taneycomo Nr. Roark Cr. | Taney | A | 12.6 ft |
| 7 | Lake Wauwanoka Nr. Dam | Jefferson | A | 12.9 ft |
| 8 | Alpine Lake | Warren | A | 12.6 ft |
| 9 | Mccormack Lake | Oregon | A | 11.7 ft |
| 10 | Timberline Lakes | St. Francois | A | 14.3 ft |
| 11 | Lake Taneycomo Ab. Bee Cr. Arm | Taney | A | 13.3 ft |
| 12 | Fourche Creek Lake | Ripley | A | 13.6 ft |
| 13 | Goose Creek Lake | Ste. Genevieve | A | 9.9 ft |
| 14 | Port Perry Lake | Perry | A | 12 ft |
| 15 | Oasis Ranch Upper Lake | Audrain | A | 14.4 ft |
| 16 | Oasis Ranch Lake | Audrain | A | 14.1 ft |
| 17 | Lake Taneycomo @ Shepherd of the Hills Fh | Taney | A | - |
| 18 | Lake Taneycomo @ Rockaway Beach | Taney | B | 8.7 ft |
| 19 | Fox Valley Lake | Clark | B | 8.5 ft |
| 20 | Table Rock Lk. Into Main Channel From Dam Lake | Stone | B | 7.2 ft |
| 21 | Lake Konstanz | Warren | B | 7.7 ft |
| 22 | Bull Shoals Lake | Taney | B | 8.1 ft |
| 23 | Table Rock L. Ab. Carter Br. Lake | Barry | B | 6.8 ft |
| 24 | Lake Taneycomo | Taney | B | 8.9 ft |
| 25 | Fellows Lake | Greene | B | 7.2 ft |
25 Lakes Needing Attention
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Englewood Park Lake | Clay | F | - |
| 2 | Loose Park Lake | Jackson | F | - |
| 3 | Perry City Lake | Ralls | F | - |
| 4 | Limpp Lake | Gentry | F | - |
| 5 | Catclaw Lake | Jackson | F | - |
| 6 | Washington Lake | Jackson | F | - |
| 7 | Blue River Parkway Lake | Jackson | F | - |
| 8 | Kessler Lake | Jackson | F | - |
| 9 | Chaumiere Park Lake | Clay | F | - |
| 10 | Lake of the Woods | Jackson | F | - |
| 11 | Firehouse Park Lake | Jackson | F | - |
| 12 | Troost Lake | Jackson | F | - |
| 13 | Tilles Park Reservoir | St. Louis | F | - |
| 14 | Big Lake | Holt | F | - |
| 15 | Troost Lake | Jackson | F | - |
| 16 | Railraod Lake | Moniteau | F | - |
| 17 | Lewis Lake | Stoddard | F | - |
| 18 | Lake Wooldridge | Saline | F | - |
| 19 | Lake Taneycomo | Taney | F | - |
| 20 | Unnamed Lake Near | Callaway | F | 2.3 ft |
| 21 | Kruse Lake | St. Charles | F | 2.6 ft |
| 22 | Mckee Prairie Pond | Jackson | F | 1.3 ft |
| 23 | Bee Tree Lake | St. Louis | F | 0.6 ft |
| 24 | Cedar Lake | Boone | F | 2.1 ft |
| 25 | Gopher Lake | Jackson | F | 1.2 ft |
Where to stay near Missouri
Top-rated places to stay near Missouri
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.