Hazel Creek Lk. Lake is a 515-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Adair County, Missouri. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2020. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Adair County, Hazel Creek Lk. Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2020-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Hazel Creek Lk. Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Swim with caution, moderate algae may be present
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 19 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 515 acres |
Where to stay near Hazel Creek Lk. Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hazel Creek Lk. 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. Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.078 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.09 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.78 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Hazel Creek Lk. Lake averages about 79°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Apr (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 61 field readings (2010–2020) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hazel Creek Lk. Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 5 lakes in Adair County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Hazel Creek Lk. Lake holds Grade C. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BForest LakeAdair County · 9 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
- CHazel Creek Lk. LakeAdair County · 0.2 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- BMilan Lake NorthSullivan County · 26 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
- CForest Lake Se BranchAdair County · 8.9 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Adair County
Explore Hazel Creek Lk. Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
Compare Hazel Creek Lk. Lake With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Hazel Creek Lk. Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hazel Creek Dam (completed 1982), built primarily for recreation on the HAZEL CREEK; earth-type dam, 65 ft tall and 1,343 ft long.
- Surface area
- 515 ac
- Normal storage
- 9,600 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 9,600 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7.91 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- CITY OF KIRKSVILLE
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO12199 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Hazel Creek Lk. 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 (1.53 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 Hazel Creek Lk. Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Greentop WwtfGreentop · 4.8 mi away · NPDES MO0091642Recent 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: 2020-09-16
Monitoring stations: 1