Sugar Creek Lake North Arm is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Randolph County, Missouri. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Randolph County, Sugar Creek Lake North Arm ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Missouri DNR, last sampled 2024-09-21. 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
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 71.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 24.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 71.3 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 24.1 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Sugar Creek Lake North Arm
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Fishing Sugar Creek Lake North Arm
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.014 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.3 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.81 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Sugar Creek Lake North Arm averages about 83°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jun (about 83°F) and coldest in Apr (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 32 field readings (2021–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sugar Creek Lake North Arm water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 7 lakes in Randolph County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Sugar Creek Lake North Arm holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CRothwell LakeRandolph County · 5.2 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- COld ReservoirRandolph County · 5.3 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- DSugar Creek LakeRandolph County · 1.2 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- CThomas Hill Lake @ Hwy TMacon County · 12.3 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- DCedar LakeRandolph County · 7.4 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Randolph County
Explore Sugar Creek Lake North Arm across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Sugar Creek Lake North Arm 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_7166.00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.97 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Sugar Creek Lake North Arm under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Cairo WwtfCairo · 2.9 mi away · NPDES MO0103390Recent violation
- Shoreline WwtpCairo · 5 mi away · NPDES MO0129305Recent 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: 2024-09-21
Monitoring stations: 1