McDaniel Lake is a 300-acre (1.2 km2) source of water for the city of Springfield, Missouri owned and operated by City Utilities of Springfield as their public water source.

Despite being 5 miles (8.0 km) north of the city limits, the Springfield Police Department has primary jurisdiction over the lake, shorelines and corresponding city-owned land (the utility is fully owned by the City of Springfield).

Fishing, however is allowed and encouraged off of the 50-yard (46 m) concrete bridge running west to east over the lake at one of its smaller sections.

The McDaniel Lake dam was raised to increase lake-water storage in 1992, making it more visible from the solitary bridge.

The lake itself is quickly gathering attention as being a top site in Southwest Missouri for fishing due to its serenity and peacefulness.