Shelby County Lake Quality
Tennessee, 5 lakes, average grade F (Very Poor)
Only 5 lakes in Shelby 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.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Mckellar Lake (D); the most-stressed is Nla Lake (F).
Quick Answers for Shelby County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Mckellar Lake — or check the official Tennessee fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Shelby County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mckellar Lake | D | - | 76 µg/L |
| 2 | Nla Lake | F | 2 ft | 120000 µg/L |
| 3 | Mckellar Lake Habor Channel | F | - | 155 µg/L |
| 4 | Mckellar Lake Inlet | F | - | 140 µg/L |
| 5 | Cypress Creek South Lake | F | - | 250 µg/L |
Other Counties in Tennessee
See how Shelby 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 Shelby County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.