Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm
Ralls County, MissouriView mapDirections
Missouri DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- Public access
Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm in Ralls County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.2 µg/L.
Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ralls County, Missouri. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Ralls County, Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-08-31. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm is safe to swim in today is a call for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm
These are the measurements Missouri DNR publishes for Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 3.8 ft. Phosphorus 31.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 14.2 µg/L. TSI 56.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 31.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 14.2µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 56 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm typically sits around 75°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Apr (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (80°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 98 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Route J Reservoir (Monroe City)Public
- John F. Spalding Recreation AreaPublic
- Route NPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm
- Indian Creek (mo)3.1 kmReserve
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
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Stays near Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm
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Fishing Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Phosphorus
Improving-6.45 µg/L/yr5 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-1.69 µg/L/yr5 years
EPA Impairment Status
Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MO_7033.00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Mark Twain Landing ResortMonroe City · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MO0103675Recent violation
- Usace Indian Creek WwtfMonroe City · 2.8 mi away · NPDES MO0127272
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.
Nearby Lakes in Ralls County
Frequently asked questions about Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm
Where is Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm?
- Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm is a lake in Ralls County, Missouri. Its water-quality measurements are published by Missouri DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm?
- Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm in Ralls County, Missouri has water-quality measurements published by Missouri DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.2 µg/L.
Is Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm?
- Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm typically sits around 75°F at the surface in September, from 98 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm?
- Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Route J Reservoir (Monroe City), John F. Spalding Recreation Area, Route N. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm?
- Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Missouri's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm?
- Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Indian Creek (mo). This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Arm across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
110 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
UMC110 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Depth, Secchi disk in meters
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles