Beech Fork Reservoir
Powell County, Kentucky61 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↑ up from D at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 34 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Beech Fork Reservoir in Powell County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 61.1 acres.
- Max depth
- ~34 ft est.
- Area
- 61 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Beech Fork Reservoir is a 61-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Powell County, Kentucky with an estimated average depth of about 34 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2022-09-13. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. TSI 53. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~34 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~14 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 61 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Kentucky has not published bathymetry for Beech Fork Reservoir.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Beech Fork Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Beech Fork Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Beech Fork Branch Dam (completed 1988), built primarily for water supply on the Red River; earth-type dam, 51 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 61.1 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,117.6 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,949 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BEECH FORK WATER DISTRICT
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KY01067 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.4 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Powell County
Nearby Lakes in Powell County
Frequently asked questions about Beech Fork Reservoir
Where is Beech Fork Reservoir?
- Beech Fork Reservoir is a lake in Powell County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Beech Fork Reservoir?
- Beech Fork Reservoir in Powell County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 61.1 acres.
Is Beech Fork Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Beech Fork Reservoir?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Beech Fork Reservoir, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 34 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 61.1 acres.
Explore Beech Fork Reservoir across LakeQuality
17.7 mi away · 40 ft
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX18 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)