Clarks Hill Lake
Lincoln County, GeorgiaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- 56 ft max depth
- Public access
Clarks Hill Lake in Lincoln County, Georgia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 6.1 ft
- Max depth
- ~56 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 11 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Clarks Hill Lake’s letter
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Clarks Hill Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lincoln County, Georgia with an estimated average depth of about 56 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 22 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Lincoln County, Clarks Hill Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Georgia EPD, last sampled 2025-10-01. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Clarks Hill Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch22 documented ramps
- Camping1 public campground nearby
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)
Murky, only visible to about 6.1 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 11 µg/L. TSI 51. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~56 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~52 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Georgia has not published bathymetry for Clarks Hill Lake.
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.
Recreation & Access
- Chamberlain Ferry RampPublic
- Elijah Clark State Park (Campground 1)Public
- Elijah Clark State Park (Campground 2)Public
- Elijah Clark State Park CabinsPublic
- Elijah Clark State Park Day UsePublic
- Murry Creek CampgroundPublic
Showing 6 of 22 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Clarks Hill Lake
- Elijah Clark State Park0.6 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Clarks Hill Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 13 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.012 m/yr | 12 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.3 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.63 µg/L/yr | 13 |
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Lincoln County
Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Clarks Hill Lake
Where is Clarks Hill Lake?
- Clarks Hill Lake is a lake in Lincoln County, Georgia. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Clarks Hill Lake?
- Clarks Hill Lake in Lincoln County, Georgia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11 µg/L.
Is Clarks Hill Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Clarks Hill Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Clarks Hill Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 56 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Clarks Hill Lake?
- Clarks Hill Lake has 22 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Chamberlain Ferry Ramp, Elijah Clark State Park (Campground 1), Elijah Clark State Park (Campground 2), Elijah Clark State Park Cabins, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Clarks Hill Lake?
- Clarks Hill Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Elijah Clark State Park. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Clarks Hill Lake across LakeQuality
More Georgia Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Georgia
Eutrophic Lakes in Georgia
Where this data comes from
226 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Georgia DNR Environmental Protection Division
21GAEPD_WQX226 samples · 2013–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles