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 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. Lake ranks #2 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. Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 24.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 24.5 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.6 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 515 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
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 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Hazel Creek Lk. Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°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 46 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 5 lakes in Adair County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Hazel Creek Lk. Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BForest LakeAdair County · 8.8 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
- BMilan Lake NorthSullivan County · 26.1 mi · Higher grade (C → B)
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 (1.22 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