Forest Lake Se Branch
Adair County, MissouriView mapDirections
Missouri DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Forest Lake Se Branch. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- Public access
Forest Lake Se Branch in Adair County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.3 µg/L.
Forest Lake Se Branch is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Adair County, Missouri. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Adair County, Forest Lake Se Branch ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-18. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Forest Lake Se Branch is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Camping2 public campgrounds nearby
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyBacteria tested: exceedances
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Based on E. coli testing, Forest Lake Se Branch occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 6.1% of 231 samples across 7 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Missouri’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Whether Forest Lake Se Branch is safe to swim in today is a call for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Forest Lake Se Branch
These are the measurements Missouri DNR publishes for Forest Lake Se Branch, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 9.3 µg/L. TSI 56.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 25µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 9.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 56 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Forest Lake Se Branch
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Forest Lake Se Branch typically sits around 64°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 81°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in Apr (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (57°F) to its warmest (84°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 84 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Forest Lake Se Branch water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Thousand HIlls State ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Forest Lake Se Branch
- Thousand Hills State Park Campground 22.3 km
- Thousand Hills State Park Campground 12.8 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Forest Lake Se Branch
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Forest Lake Se Branch in Adair County, Missouri — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Forest Lake Se Branch
Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Forest Lake Se Branch → · more Missouri lake trips
Follow Forest Lake Se Branch’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing Forest Lake Se Branch
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Stable5 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.24 µg/L/yr5 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.18 µg/L/yr5 years
EPA Impairment Status
Forest Lake Se Branch is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MO_7151.00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
7 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Forest Lake Se Branch under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Kirksville WwtpKirksville · 4.1 mi away · NPDES MO0049506MajorRecent violation
- Lakeroad Village Park WwtfKirksville · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MO0045501Recent violation
- Burk Subdivision WwtfKirksville · 3.8 mi away · NPDES MO0107557Recent violation
- United Parcel Service - KirksvilleKirksville · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MONX00680
- Ups KirksvilleKirksville · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MONX00898
- Rye Creek LandfillKirksville · 3.9 mi away · NPDES MO0119741
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.
Nearby Lakes in Adair County
Frequently asked questions about Forest Lake Se Branch
Where is Forest Lake Se Branch?
- Forest Lake Se Branch is a lake in Adair County, Missouri. Its water-quality measurements are published by Missouri DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Forest Lake Se Branch?
- Forest Lake Se Branch in Adair County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.3 µg/L.
Is Forest Lake Se Branch safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Forest Lake Se Branch occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 6.1% of 231 samples across 7 seasons. That is a historical summary of past bacteria testing, not a current reading and not a swimming clearance. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so whether Forest Lake Se Branch is safe to swim in today is a call for Missouri's water agency and the county health department; check their current beach advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Forest Lake Se Branch?
- Forest Lake Se Branch typically sits around 64°F at the surface in October, from 84 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Forest Lake Se Branch?
- Forest Lake Se Branch has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Thousand HIlls State Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Forest Lake Se Branch?
- Forest Lake Se Branch has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Missouri's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Forest Lake Se Branch?
- Forest Lake Se Branch has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Thousand Hills State Park Campground 2, Thousand Hills State Park Campground 1. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Forest Lake Se Branch across LakeQuality
More lakes in Missouri
Other Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Where this data comes from
114 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC114 samples · 2020–2024
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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles