Nelson County Lake Quality
Kentucky, 1 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Nelson County has 1 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. With an average grade of B, Nelson County sits comfortably above the {{stateName}} median.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Sympson Lake (B) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Nelson County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Sympson Lake — or check the official Kentucky fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Nelson County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sympson Lake | B | - | 21.9 µg/L |
Other Counties in Kentucky
See how Nelson County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 34 states.
Where to stay near Nelson County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.