Henderson County Lake Quality
Texas, 3 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Only 3 lakes in Henderson 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. Henderson County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
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. Lake Athens (B) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Henderson County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Lake Athens — or check the official Texas fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Henderson County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Athens | B | 5.9 ft | 20 µg/L |
| 2 | Purtis Creek Lake | C | 3 ft | 45 µg/L |
| 3 | Lake Palestine Cwqmn Site | D | 2.1 ft | 40 µg/L |
Other Counties in Texas
See how Henderson County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 17 states.
Where to stay near Henderson County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.