Lake County Lake Quality
Tennessee, 2 lakes, average grade F (Very Poor)
Only 2 lakes in Lake County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. The county average is F — the most-stressed bracket in our rubric. Most monitored lakes here show persistent nutrient loading and algal pressure.
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. Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin (F) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Lake County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin — or check the official Tennessee fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Lake County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reelfoot Lake Blue Basin | F | - | 242 µg/L |
| 2 | Reelfoot Lake | F | - | 414 µg/L |
Other Counties in Tennessee
See how Lake 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 Lake County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.