Forest Lake Se Branch is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Adair County, Missouri. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2024. 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 #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Forest Lake Se Branch water quality
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Swimming Safety
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.
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 25 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.3 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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.
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Fishing Forest Lake Se Branch
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.011 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.24 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.18 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Forest Lake Se Branch averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in Apr (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
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 →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 5 lakes in Adair County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Forest Lake Se Branch holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BForest LakeAdair County · 1 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
- CHazel Creek Lk. LakeAdair County · 8.7 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- BMilan Lake NorthSullivan County · 24.8 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
Nearby Lakes in Adair County
Explore Forest Lake Se Branch across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MO_7151.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.95 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2024-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1