Carpenters Lake
Daviess County, Kentucky62 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #1 of 2 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Carpenters Lake in Daviess County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 43.9 µg/L. Surface area: 62.2 acres.
- Area
- 62 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 43.9 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Carpenters Lake’s letter
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Carpenters Lake is a 62-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Daviess County, Kentucky. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2019. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Daviess County, Carpenters Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2019-09-05. 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. Carpenters Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 43.9 µg/L. TSI 59. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 43.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 62 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Carpenters Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Carpenters Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +9.9 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Carpenters Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Carpenter Lake Dam (completed 1936), built primarily for recreation on the Pup Creek; earth-type dam, 16 ft tall and 325 ft long.
- Surface area
- 62.2 ac
- Normal storage
- 370.8 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 441.4 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.41 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KY00016 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.34 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Carpenters Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit KY-436 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Daviess County
Nearby Lakes in Daviess County
Frequently asked questions about Carpenters Lake
Where is Carpenters Lake?
- Carpenters Lake is a lake in Daviess County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Carpenters Lake?
- Carpenters Lake in Daviess County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 43.9 µg/L. Surface area: 62.2 acres.
Is Carpenters Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Carpenters Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Carpenters Lake across LakeQuality
More Kentucky Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Kentucky
Eutrophic Lakes in Kentucky
Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2014–2019. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX14 samples · 2014–2019
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
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