Is Hazel Creek Lk. Lake Polluted?
Yes — Hazel Creek Lk. Lake in Adair County, Missouri is on the EPA's Clean Water Act 303(d) impaired-waters list (2022 assessment cycle). It is cited for Algal growth, Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). No cleanup plan (TMDL) has been completed yet. "Impaired" is a legal designation, separate from the lake's A–F water-quality grade: it means at least one designated use (such as swimming, aquatic life, or fish consumption) does not meet state standards for the listed pollutant.
EPA 303(d) Listing
| On 303(d) impaired list | Yes |
| Cleanup plan (TMDL) | Not yet written |
| Assessment cycle | 2022 |
| EPA IR category | 5 |
| Location | Adair County, Missouri |
Pollutants Cited
- Algal growth — listed by EPA as exceeding water-quality standards for at least one designated use.
- Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen) — Excess phosphorus and nitrogen fuel algae growth and summer blooms. This is the classic agricultural-runoff and shoreline-development impairment, and the one most likely to affect swimming via blue-green algae.
Specific parameters in the EPA record: CHLOROPHYLL-A, NITROGEN, TOTAL.
What this means for using Hazel Creek Lk. Lake
Because Hazel Creek Lk. Lake is listed for Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), swimming can be affected — check for posted beach advisories, especially after heavy rain or during visible algae. An impairment listing does not mean the lake is closed — most impaired lakes remain open for boating and swimming. It means a specific pollutant exceeds a standard for a specific use. Hazel Creek Lk. Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of B, with algae (chlorophyll-a) at 9.6 µg/L and phosphorus at 24.5 µg/L — see the full breakdown on the lake report. The official EPA assessment is available in the ATTAINS waterbody report.
Watch Hazel Creek Lk. Lake water quality
Get an email when the grade, clarity, or algae reading changes. Unsubscribe anytime.