Rowan County, Kentucky · Water Quality Report Card
Cave Run Lake
Cave Run Lake in Rowan County, Kentucky is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L.
- Mean depth
- ~89 ft est.
- Type
- Oligotrophic
Cave Run Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Rowan County, Kentucky with an estimated average depth of about 89 feet.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2014-07-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Cave Run Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water Quality Grade: Not rated
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~89 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Kentucky has not published bathymetry for Cave Run Lake.
Where to stay near Cave Run Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cave Run Lake in Rowan County, Kentucky — 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Cave Run Lake
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 trip to Cave Run Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Cave Run Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Kentucky’s top lakes →
Fishing Cave Run Lake
Location
Nearby Lakes in Rowan County
Explore Cave Run Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
13.5 mi away · 60 ft
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Kentucky's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Kentucky's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Kentucky Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Kentucky
Oligotrophic Lakes in Kentucky
More records, surveys & data sources
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.
Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2014. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX8 samples · 2014
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds come from the U.S. EPA National Lakes Assessment 2022 Technical Support Document (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion
Most recent sample: 2014-07-24
Monitoring stations: 2