Fourche Creek Lake is a 49-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Ripley County, Missouri. Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Ripley County, Fourche Creek Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2023-08-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 13.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.6 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.3 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 49 acres |
Where to stay near Fourche Creek Lake
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Fishing Fourche Creek Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.175 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.65 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.15 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Fourche Creek Lake averages about 83°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in Jun (about 81°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2013–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Fourche Creek Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Ripley County
Nearby Lakes in Ripley County
Explore Fourche Creek Lake across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Missouri's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Missouri
Oregon County · Clarity: 11.7 ft
Iron County · Clarity: 13.1 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 11.1 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 14.1 ft
St. Francois County · Clarity: 16.3 ft
Perry County · Clarity: 12 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Fourche Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Fourche Creek Dam (completed 1975), built primarily for recreation on the FOURCHE CREEK; earth-type dam, 60 ft tall and 1,060 ft long.
- Surface area
- 49 ac
- Normal storage
- 1 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 544 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 8 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USDA FS
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO31227 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Fourche Creek Lake 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_7324.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.45 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Fourche Creek Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Ripley Co R-Iii School District WwtfGatewood · 3.9 mi away · NPDES MO0054941Recent violation
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
Most recent sample: 2023-08-16
Monitoring stations: 1