Danw Lake
Wilcox County, Alabama17,200 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 3 in the county
- Public access
Danw Lake in Wilcox County, Alabama has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 2.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L. Surface area: 17200 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.9 ft
- Area
- 17,200 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 23 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 7.5 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Danw Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Danw Lake in Wilcox County, Alabama — 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 Danw Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 whole trip? See where to stay at Alabama’s top lakes →
Watch Danw Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Danw Lake is a 17,200-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wilcox County, Alabama. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Wilcox County, Danw Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEM, last sampled 2023-10-17. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Danw Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Big water17,200 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 B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Very murky, less than 2.9 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.5 µg/L. TSI 54. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 17,200 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Danw Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Cobbs LandingPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Danw Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.002 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.4 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.75 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Danw Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Millers Ferry Lock and Dam (completed 1970), built primarily for recreation on the Alabama River; gravity-type dam, 100 ft tall and 1,167 ft long.
- Surface area
- 17,200 ac
- Normal storage
- 331,800 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 331,800 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 20,637 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- USACE - Mobile District
All listed purposes: Recreation;Navigation;Hydroelectric.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AL01435 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.31 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Wilcox County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Danw Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Wilcox County
Frequently asked questions about Danw Lake
Where is Danw Lake?
- Danw Lake is a lake in Wilcox County, Alabama. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Danw Lake?
- Danw Lake in Wilcox County, Alabama has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 2.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L. Surface area: 17200 acres.
Is Danw Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Danw Lake?
- Danw Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cobbs Landing. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Danw Lake across LakeQuality
More Alabama Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Alabama
Where this data comes from
145 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
21AWIC145 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