Dewey Lake
Floyd County, KentuckyView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Dewey Lake in Floyd County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 21.4 µg/L.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 21.4 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Dewey Lake
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Watch Dewey Lake’s letter
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Dewey Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Floyd County, Kentucky. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2017. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2017-10-04. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Dewey Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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. Dewey Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 21.4 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 21.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Dewey Lake
- Jenny Wiley State Resort Park Campground2.8 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 Dewey Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.64 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Dewey Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Dewey Dam - Brandykeg Dike (completed 1950), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Johns Creek of Levisa Fork; earth-type dam, 41 ft tall and 315 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 0 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 31,000 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Huntington District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KY03029 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Dewey Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit KY-637 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Floyd County
Nearby Lakes in Floyd County
Frequently asked questions about Dewey Lake
Where is Dewey Lake?
- Dewey Lake is a lake in Floyd County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Dewey Lake?
- Dewey Lake in Floyd County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 21.4 µg/L.
Is Dewey Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Dewey Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on Dewey Lake?
- Dewey Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Jenny Wiley State Resort Park Campground. 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 Dewey Lake across LakeQuality
More Kentucky Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Kentucky
Mesotrophic Lakes in Kentucky
Where this data comes from
29 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2012–2017. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX29 samples · 2012–2017
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles