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LakeQuality
Late afternoon sun over Slim Lake, scattering a bright path across wind-textured water
D

Shelby County Lake Quality

Tennessee, 18 lakes, average grade D (Nutrient-rich)

There are 18 monitored lakes in Shelby County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. 1 of those lake carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. On average, Shelby County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.

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 Mckellar Lake (D).

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All Lakes in Shelby County

18 lakes · 1 graded, 17 not rated1 graded lake · 17 not rated, hidden

#LakeGradeClarityPhosphorusAlgaeTrophicAccess
1DMckellar LakeShelbyDNo recent samples76 µg/LNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMckellar Lake Habor ChannelShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples✓ Public
NRMckellar Lake InletShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRCypress Creek South LakeShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLakeland LakeShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRWalnut Grove LakeShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRRound LakeShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRNorth Horn LakeShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRRobco LakeShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRCoro LakeShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRCockleburr LakeShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRWolf River LagoonShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRSky LakeShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRPoplar Tree LakeShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRWillow LakeShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBarnishee BayouShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLyles LakeShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRCasper LakeShelbyNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded

NR = not rated: there is not enough recent sampling to support a letter. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.

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See how Shelby County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.