Rutherford County Lake Quality
Tennessee, 8 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Rutherford County has 8 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. The county-wide average grade is D — water quality issues are persistent across most of the monitored basins. 0 lakes fall into the F bracket outright.
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. East Fork Stones River Lake (D) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Rutherford County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for East Fork Stones River Lake — or check the official Tennessee fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Rutherford County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Fork Stones River Lake | D | - | 71.3 µg/L |
Other Counties in Tennessee
See how Rutherford 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 Rutherford County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.