Sugar Creek Lake is a 323-acre 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 ranks #5 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 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 22.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 45 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 22.7 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 323 acres |
Where to stay near Sugar Creek Lake
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Fishing Sugar Creek Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.002 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.79 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.29 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Water Temperature
Sugar Creek Lake averages about 82°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in Apr (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 94 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sugar Creek Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 7 lakes in Randolph County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Sugar Creek Lake holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CRothwell LakeRandolph County · 4 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- COld ReservoirRandolph County · 4.1 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- DSugar Creek LakeRandolph County · 1 mi · Higher overall water quality score
- CThomas Hill Lake @ Hwy TMacon County · 12.9 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- DCedar LakeRandolph County · 6.4 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Randolph County
Explore Sugar Creek Lake across LakeGrade
More Missouri Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Missouri
Eutrophic Lakes in Missouri
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Sugar Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Sugar Creek Lake Dam (completed 1957), built primarily for water supply on the SUGAR CREEK; earth-type dam, 49 ft tall and 1,030 ft long.
- Surface area
- 323 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,250 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,748 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 10.55 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- CITY OF MOBERLY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MO10005 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Sugar Creek 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_7166.00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Sugar Creek Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Moberly Sanitary LandfillHuntsville · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MO0108723Recent violation
- Huntsville Northeast WwtfHuntsville · 3.7 mi away · NPDES MO0040827Recent violation
- Huntsville Northwest WwtfHuntsville · 4.9 mi away · NPDES MO0040819Recent 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