Clam Lake
Monroe County, Alabama5,850 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from C at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
Clam Lake in Monroe County, Alabama has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.1 µg/L. Surface area: 5850 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Area
- 5,850 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 32.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 6.1 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Clam Lake’s letter
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Clam Lake is a 5,850-acre mesotrophic lake in Monroe County, Alabama. Water quality is graded A 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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEM, last sampled 2023-10-17. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Clam Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Big water5,850 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 32.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.1 µg/L. TSI 55. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 32.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 5,850 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Clam Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Claiborne Damsite East BankPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Clam Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.021 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.06 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.72 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Clam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Claiborne Lock and Dam (completed 1971), built primarily for navigation on the Alabama River; gravity-type dam, 80 ft tall and 2,550 ft long.
- Surface area
- 5,850 ac
- Normal storage
- 96,360 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 96,360 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 21,473 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- USACE - Mobile District
All listed purposes: Navigation;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AL01436 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.28 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Monroe County
Nearby Lakes in Monroe County
Frequently asked questions about Clam Lake
Where is Clam Lake?
- Clam Lake is a lake in Monroe County, Alabama. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Clam Lake?
- Clam Lake in Monroe County, Alabama has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.1 µg/L. Surface area: 5850 acres.
Is Clam Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Clam Lake?
- Clam Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Claiborne Damsite East Bank. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Clam Lake across LakeQuality
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Other Grade A Lakes in Alabama
Where this data comes from
135 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- ALABAMA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - WATER QUALITY DATA
21AWIC135 samples · 2013–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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