Ellf Lake
Franklin County, AlabamaView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 37 ft max depth
- Limited data
Ellf Lake in Franklin County, Alabama has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 8.8 ft
- Max depth
- ~37 ft est.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 18 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 5.5 µg/L
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Watch Ellf Lake’s letter
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Ellf Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Franklin County, Alabama with an estimated average depth of about 37 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEM, last sampled 2023-10-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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 A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.8 ft. Phosphorus 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.5 µg/L. TSI 46. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~37 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~16 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Alabama has not published bathymetry for Ellf 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.
Fishing Ellf Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Ellf Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Elliott Lake Dam (completed 1966), built primarily for recreation on the Dunkin Creek; earth-type dam, 52 ft tall and 800 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 2,842 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,720 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- CITY OF RUSSELLVILLE
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AL00098 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.62 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Franklin County
Nearby Lakes in Franklin County
Frequently asked questions about Ellf Lake
Where is Ellf Lake?
- Ellf Lake is a lake in Franklin County, Alabama. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Ellf Lake?
- Ellf Lake in Franklin County, Alabama has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.5 µg/L.
Is Ellf Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Ellf Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Ellf Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 37 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Ellf Lake across LakeQuality
More Alabama Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Alabama
Mesotrophic Lakes in Alabama
Where this data comes from
28 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- ALABAMA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - WATER QUALITY DATA
21AWIC28 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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)