Cave Run Lake
Morgan County, KentuckyView 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.
- Impaired · Mercury
- Public access
- Limited data
Cave Run Lake in Morgan County, Kentucky is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 10.6 µg/L.
- Phosphorus
- 10.6 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Cave Run Lake’s letter
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Why Cave Run 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 Cave Run 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 KY DOW and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Cave Run Lake is a lake in Morgan County, Kentucky. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2014-07-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Cave Run Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Cave Run Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 10.6 µg/L. TSI 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 10.6 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Fishing Cave Run Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Cave Run 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-2159 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Cave Run Lake
Cave Run Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Morgan County
Frequently asked questions about Cave Run Lake
Where is Cave Run Lake?
- Cave Run Lake is a lake in Morgan County, Kentucky. 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 Cave Run Lake?
- Cave Run Lake in Morgan County, Kentucky is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 10.6 µg/L.
Is Cave Run Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Cave Run Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Cave Run Lake across LakeQuality
3 documented falls within 17.2 mi, nearest Broke Leg Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2014. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX4 samples · 2014
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database