Hazel Creek Lk. East Fork Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Adair County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving 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, Hazel Creek Lk. East Fork Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Hazel Creek Lk. East Fork Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 31.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 13.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 31.5 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.8 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Hazel Creek Lk. East Fork Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hazel Creek Lk. East Fork Lake 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 Hazel Creek Lk. East Fork Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.014 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.05 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.27 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Hazel Creek Lk. East Fork Lake averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°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 99 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hazel Creek Lk. East Fork Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 5 lakes in Adair County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Hazel Creek Lk. East Fork Lake holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BForest LakeAdair County · 8.1 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CHazel Creek Lk. LakeAdair County · 1.6 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- BMilan Lake NorthSullivan County · 27 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CForest Lake Se BranchAdair County · 7.8 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CHazel Creek Lk. LakeAdair County · 1.8 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Adair County
Explore Hazel Creek Lk. East Fork Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Macon County · Clarity: 1.8 ft
Macon County · Clarity: 1.9 ft
Knox County · Clarity: 2.1 ft
Randolph County · Clarity: 2.3 ft
Lewis County · Clarity: 2.9 ft
Randolph County · Clarity: 1.6 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Hazel Creek Lk. East Fork 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_7152.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.41 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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