Caney Fork River Lake
DeKalb County, Tennessee18,220 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Public access
- Limited data
Caney Fork River Lake in DeKalb County, Tennessee is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Surface area: 18220 acres.
- Area
- 18,220 acres
- Phosphorus
- 15 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Caney Fork River Lake’s letter
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Why Caney Fork River Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Caney Fork River Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded phosphorus, but not water clarity and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by TDEC and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Caney Fork River Lake is a 18,220-acre lake in DeKalb County, Tennessee. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 6 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TDEC, last sampled 2012-07-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Caney Fork River Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch6 documented ramps
- Camping1 public campground nearby
- Big water18,220 acres
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Caney Fork River Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 15 µg/L. TSI 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 18,220 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Caney Fork River Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Edgar Evins State Park Ramp 2Public
- Edgar Evins State Park Ramp 1Public
- Long BranchPublic
- Buffalo ValleyPublic
- Edgar Evins MarinaPublic
- Center Hill MarinaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Caney Fork River Lake
- Edgar Evins State Park Campground1.2 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Caney Fork River Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.2 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +38.6 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Caney Fork River Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Center Hill Dam (completed 1951), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Caney Fork River; other-type dam, 125 ft tall and 2,160 ft long.
- Surface area
- 18,220 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,330,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,092,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2,174 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Nashville District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Other;Recreation;Hydroelectric;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID TN04102 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.83 km)
Nearby Lakes in DeKalb County
Frequently asked questions about Caney Fork River Lake
Where is Caney Fork River Lake?
- Caney Fork River Lake is a lake in DeKalb County, Tennessee. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for Caney Fork River Lake?
- Caney Fork River Lake in DeKalb County, Tennessee is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Surface area: 18220 acres.
Is Caney Fork River Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Caney Fork River Lake?
- Caney Fork River Lake has 6 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Edgar Evins State Park Ramp 2, Edgar Evins State Park Ramp 1, Long Branch, Buffalo Valley, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Caney Fork River Lake?
- Caney Fork River Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Edgar Evins State Park Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Caney Fork River Lake across LakeQuality
2 documented falls within 18 mi, nearest Burgess Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2012. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- TDEC Division of Water Resources
TDECWR_WQX1 sample · 2012
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles