Indian Hills Lake Nr. Dam is a 355-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Crawford County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2020.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2020-09-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 3.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 28.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.4 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 35 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28.4 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 355 acres |
Where to stay near Indian Hills Lake Nr. Dam
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Fishing Indian Hills Lake Nr. Dam
Water Temperature
Indian Hills Lake Nr. Dam averages about 82°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in Jun (about 77°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2015–2020) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Indian Hills Lake Nr. Dam water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Crawford County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Indian Hills Lake Nr. Dam holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CLittle Prairie Lake by DamPhelps County · 15 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CLittle Prairie LakePhelps County · 15 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CPeaceful Valley LakeGasconade County · 18 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CLost Valley LakeGasconade County · 25.6 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CPort Hudson LakeFranklin County · 27.3 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Crawford County
Explore Indian Hills Lake Nr. Dam across LakeGrade
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Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Indian Hills Lake Nr. Dam is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Indian Hills Lake Dam (completed 1960), built primarily for recreation on the BRUSH CREEK; earth-type dam, 50 ft tall and 1,300 ft long.
- Surface area
- 355 ac
- Normal storage
- 8,875 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 8,875 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 15.18 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- INDIAN HILLS PROP OWNERS
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO30075 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.14 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Indian Hills Lake Nr. Dam 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_7288.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.52 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
10 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Indian Hills Lake Nr. Dam under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Cuba WwtpCuba · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MO0094919MajorRecent violation
- Kmas Properties, LlcCuba · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MO0087360Recent violation
- Four Acres Estates Llc WwtfCuba · 2.9 mi away · NPDES MO0110493Recent violation
- Knights Of Columbus Council 8920 WwtpCuba · 4.7 mi away · NPDES MO0134210Recent violation
- Prairie Valley Sanitary LandfillCuba · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MO0122416
- Don And Nell Stewart TruckingCuba · 3.9 mi away · NPDES MONX00033
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: 2020-09-02
Monitoring stations: 2