Bvlj Lake
Jefferson County, AlabamaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #2 of 2 in the county
- 50 ft max depth
- Limited data
Bvlj Lake in Jefferson County, Alabama has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 141 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 40.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Max depth
- ~50 ft est.
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 141 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 40.3 µg/L
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Bvlj Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bvlj Lake in Jefferson County, Alabama — 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 Bvlj Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Bvlj Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Alabama’s top lakes →
Watch Bvlj Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Bvlj Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Jefferson County, Alabama with an estimated average depth of about 50 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2017. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Jefferson County, Bvlj Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEM, last sampled 2017-10-26. 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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Bvlj Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), sediment / turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 141 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 40.3 µg/L. TSI 70. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 141 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 40.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 70 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~50 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Alabama has not published bathymetry for Bvlj Lake.
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 Bvlj Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Bvlj Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Bayview Lake (completed 1910), built primarily for water supply on the Village Creek; gravity-type dam, 100 ft tall and 550 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 12,800 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 14,200 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- T. C. I., US STEEL CO.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AL01256 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.96 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Bvlj Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit AL03160111-0408-101 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.16 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Jefferson County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Bvlj Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Jefferson County
Frequently asked questions about Bvlj Lake
Where is Bvlj Lake?
- Bvlj Lake is a lake in Jefferson County, Alabama. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Bvlj Lake?
- Bvlj Lake in Jefferson County, Alabama has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 141 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 40.3 µg/L.
Is Bvlj Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Bvlj Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), sediment / turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Bvlj Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Bvlj Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 50 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Bvlj Lake across LakeQuality
More Alabama Lake Rankings
Where this data comes from
48 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2017. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- ALABAMA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - WATER QUALITY DATA
21AWIC48 samples · 2017
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)