Combs Lake
Clay County, Kentucky36 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
Combs Lake in Clay County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 36.3 acres.
- Area
- 36 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Combs Lake’s letter
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Combs Lake is a 36-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Clay County, Kentucky. Water quality is graded C 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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2023-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. TSI 53. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 36 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Combs Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Combs Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.97 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Combs Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Beech Creek Dam (completed 1963), built primarily for water supply on the Beech Creek; earth-type dam, 67 ft tall and 400 ft long.
- Surface area
- 36.3 ac
- Normal storage
- 935.5 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,600 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KY00043 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.21 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Clay County
Nearby Lakes in Clay County
Frequently asked questions about Combs Lake
Where is Combs Lake?
- Combs Lake is a lake in Clay County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Combs Lake?
- Combs Lake in Clay County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 36.3 acres.
Is Combs Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Combs Lake across LakeQuality
19.1 mi away · 33 ft
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Kentucky's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
28 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2013–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX28 samples · 2013–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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.