Big Sandy River Lake
Benton County, TennesseeView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
Big Sandy River Lake in Benton County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 64 µg/L.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 64 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Sandy River Lake in Benton County, Tennessee — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Big Sandy River Lake are listed below.
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Big Sandy River Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Benton County, Tennessee. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TDEC, last sampled 2026-04-20. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Big Sandy River Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 64 µg/L. TSI 64. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 64 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
- Big SandyPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Big Sandy River Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 12 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.1 µg/L/yr | 12 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Benton County
Nearby Lakes in Benton County
Frequently asked questions about Big Sandy River Lake
Where is Big Sandy River Lake?
- Big Sandy River Lake is a lake in Benton County, Tennessee. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Big Sandy River Lake?
- Big Sandy River Lake in Benton County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 64 µg/L.
Is Big Sandy River Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Big Sandy River Lake?
- Big Sandy River Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Sandy. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Big Sandy River Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Tennessee's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Tennessee's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Tennessee Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Tennessee
Henry County · Nutrient-rich
Humphreys County · Nutrient-rich
Stewart County · Nutrient-rich
Decatur County · Nutrient-rich
Cheatham County · Nutrient-rich
Obion County · Nutrient-rich
Eutrophic Lakes in Tennessee
Where this data comes from
94 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- TDEC Division of Water Resources
TDECWR_WQX94 samples · 2012–2026
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P H ~ Manual Digestion and Flow Injection Analysis for Total Phosphorus
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
- 2120 C ~ Color in Water by Spectrophotometry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory