Cleanest Lakes in Texas: Top 25 Ranked by Water Quality
The single cleanest lake in Texas is Lake Daingerfield Headwaters, with the highest combined water quality score in our 2026 dataset (grade A). Cleanliness is measured by Secchi depth (clarity), total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — all sourced from EPA Water Quality Portal and state agency sampling. The full top 25 ranked list appears below.
Filtered to remove lakes with limited data (<3 sampling years). Sorted by overall water quality score.
The "cleanest" ranking on LakeGrade is composite: water clarity (Secchi), total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — the three core inputs to the LakeGrade rubric — taken together. The cleanest {{stateName}} lake on the current data is Lake Daingerfield Headwaters (A).
The top of the cleanest-lakes list is dominated by deep, glacial, cold-water basins — the same basins that produce the A-grade bracket overall. The pattern is not coincidence: depth and watershed land-use are the dominant inputs to water-clarity and nutrient-loading both.
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Chlorophyll-a | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Daingerfield Headwaters | Morris | A | 8.5 ft | 20 µg/L | 2.9 µg/L | - |
| 2 | Lake Meredith | Hutchinson | B | 5.3 ft | 24 µg/L | 7 µg/L | - |
| 3 | Lake Kemp | Baylor | B | 3.7 ft | 9.5 µg/L | 9.5 µg/L | - |
| 4 | Lake Jacksonville | Cherokee | B | 7.4 ft | 22.6 µg/L | 5.6 µg/L | - |
| 5 | Lake Hawkins | Wood | B | 6.7 ft | 20 µg/L | 6.9 µg/L | - |
| 6 | Oak Creek Reserv Lake | Coke | B | 3.8 ft | 21 µg/L | 6.7 µg/L | - |
| 7 | Amistad Reservoir | Val Verde | B | 8.2 ft | 20 µg/L | 3.5 µg/L | - |
| 8 | Amistad Reserv Rio Grande Arm Lake | Val Verde | B | 5.2 ft | 20 µg/L | 6.1 µg/L | - |
| 9 | Whitney Lake | Hill | B | 4.8 ft | 20 µg/L | 14.6 µg/L | - |
| 10 | Ray Roberts Lake Site | Denton | B | 3.9 ft | 20.1 µg/L | 15.6 µg/L | - |
| 11 | Lake Coleman | Coleman | B | 3.9 ft | 20 µg/L | 9.6 µg/L | - |
| 12 | Lake Alan Henry | Garza | B | 9.4 ft | 91.4 µg/L | 2.6 µg/L | - |
| 13 | Lake Athens | Henderson | B | 5.9 ft | 20 µg/L | 13.7 µg/L | - |
| 14 | Marine Creek Lake | Tarrant | B | 3.3 ft | 22.7 µg/L | 14.9 µg/L | - |
| 15 | Red Bluff Reservoir | Reeves | B | 1.9 ft | 20 µg/L | 16.8 µg/L | - |
| 16 | Lake Averhoff Upstream Tpwd Ramp | Zavala | B | 8.2 ft | 30 µg/L | 3.4 µg/L | - |
| 17 | Lake Georgetown | Williamson | B | 5.6 ft | 20 µg/L | 9.4 µg/L | - |
| 18 | Lake Jacksboro Mid Lake | Jack | B | 3.6 ft | 20 µg/L | 7.7 µg/L | - |
| 19 | Grapevine Lake | Tarrant | C | 2.4 ft | 48 µg/L | 18.5 µg/L | - |
| 20 | Lake J B Thomas | Scurry | C | 1.6 ft | 36 µg/L | 11 µg/L | - |
| 21 | Ray Roberts Lake | Cooke | C | 2.6 ft | 30 µg/L | 15 µg/L | - |
| 22 | Hubbard Creek Reservoir | Stephens | C | 3.1 ft | 30 µg/L | 9 µg/L | - |
| 23 | Lynchburg Reservoir | Harris | C | 1.1 ft | 98.5 µg/L | 5.9 µg/L | - |
| 24 | Greenbelt Lake | Donley | C | 2.1 ft | 30 µg/L | 17.9 µg/L | - |
| 25 | Lake Whitney | Bosque | C | 3.1 ft | 40 µg/L | 19.3 µg/L | - |
Clearest lakes in Texas by water clarity
“Clearest” ranks by Secchi depth — how far you can see into the water — which can differ from the combined cleanliness score above. The clearest water in Texas is Brandy Branch Reservoir at 12 ft of Secchi visibility.
- 1. Brandy Branch Reservoir — 12 ft, Harrison County
- 2. Canyon Lake — 10.8 ft, Comal County
- 3. Lake Alan Henry — 9.4 ft, Garza County
- 4. Lake Daingerfield Headwaters — 8.5 ft, Morris County
- 5. Amistad Reservoir — 8.2 ft, Val Verde County
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cleanest lake in Texas?
Lake Daingerfield Headwaters has the highest water quality score in our 2026 Texas dataset (grade A), based on combined Secchi clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a measurements. Cleanliness here means low nutrient load, deep water clarity, and minimal algae — measured directly from EPA and state DNR samples.
What is the most polluted lake in Texas?
Among monitored Texas lakes, Rita Blanca Lake ranks among the most polluted by combined phosphorus and chlorophyll-a load. See our full ranking on the most-polluted-lakes trend page for state-by-state details.
Where in Texas has the cleanest water?
Texas's clearest waters are concentrated in deeper, lower-nutrient glacial basins with forested or low-agriculture watersheds. Among the current top-ranked lakes above, counties like Val Verde, Tarrant, and Morris produce the highest-scoring lakes.
What is the clearest lake in Texas?
Brandy Branch Reservoir is the clearest lake in Texas by water clarity, with a Secchi depth of 12 feet — the deepest transparency in our 2026 dataset. "Clearest" ranks by Secchi depth (how far you can see into the water) specifically, while "cleanest" combines clarity with phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. See our full clearest-lakes ranking for Texas for the top 25 by Secchi clarity.
Are these lakes safe to swim in?
A and B grade lakes are typically safe for swimming under normal conditions. Chlorophyll-a below 10 µg/L means low risk of harmful algal blooms. Always check posted advisories before swimming — water quality changes seasonally, especially in late summer when blue-green algae bloom risk peaks.
How are these grades calculated?
Each lake is scored on three signals: Secchi depth (water clarity in feet), total phosphorus (nutrient load in µg/L), and chlorophyll-a (algae concentration in µg/L). Each gets a 0–100 sub-score relative to Texas state norms. The three sub-scores average into the overall score, which maps to an A–F letter grade. Methodology details live on our methodology page.
What are the top 5 cleanest lakes in the US?
There is no single national ranking of cleanest lakes — each state agency uses different metrics. Crater Lake (Oregon) is widely cited as the clearest US lake, with Secchi depths over 30 m. Lake Tahoe and Lake Superior are also top-tier nationally. Within Texas, the lakes ranked above are the top 25 by our standardized 2026 grading.
How we rank cleanest lakes
Cleanliness here means three things working together:
- Secchi clarity — how deep you can see into the water (in feet). Greater depth = clearer water = lower suspended sediment and algae.
- Total phosphorus — the nutrient that fuels algae. Lower phosphorus levels mean less algae growth potential.
- Chlorophyll-a — the green pigment in algae. Direct measurement of how much algae is currently in the water.
Each signal is normalized against Texas state norms and combined into a single 0–100 score. The lakes above are sorted by that combined score.Full methodology →
Where to stay near Texas's cleanest lakes
Compare cabins, resorts, and rentals near the clearest, lowest-algae lakes in Texas — live availability and prices for your trip.
Top-rated places to stay near Texas's cleanest lakes
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Texas's cleanest lakes?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Texas's cleanest lakes — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.