Cannon Creek Lake
Bell County, Kentucky243 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 3 in the county
- Public access
Cannon Creek Lake in Bell County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 243 acres.
- Area
- 243 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Cannon Creek Lake’s letter
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Cannon Creek Lake is a 243-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Bell County, Kentucky. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Bell County, Cannon Creek Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2023-09-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Cannon Creek Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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 |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 243 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Cannon Creek Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Cannon CreekPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Cannon Creek Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.18 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.7 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Cannon Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Cannon Creek Dam (completed 1972), built primarily for water supply on the Yellow Creek; earth-type dam, 125 ft tall and 900 ft long.
- Surface area
- 243 ac
- Normal storage
- 11,300 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 16,700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4.62 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KY00275 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Bell County
Nearby Lakes in Bell County
Frequently asked questions about Cannon Creek Lake
Where is Cannon Creek Lake?
- Cannon Creek Lake is a lake in Bell County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Cannon Creek Lake?
- Cannon Creek Lake in Bell County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 243 acres.
Is Cannon Creek Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Cannon Creek Lake?
- Cannon Creek Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cannon Creek. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cannon Creek Lake across LakeQuality
More Kentucky Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Kentucky
Eutrophic Lakes in Kentucky
Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2015–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX30 samples · 2015–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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