Energy Lake
Trigg County, Kentucky370 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
Energy Lake in Trigg County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Surface area: 370 acres.
- Area
- 370 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 36 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Energy Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Energy Lake in Trigg County, Kentucky — 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Energy Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Energy Lake
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Watch Energy Lake’s letter
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Energy Lake is a 370-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Trigg County, Kentucky. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2021-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Energy Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch4 documented ramps
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Energy 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: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 36 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 36 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 370 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Energy Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Taylor BayPublic
- Crooked CreekPublic
- Shaw BranchPublic
- Energy LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Energy Lake
- Energy Lake Campground0.8 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 Energy Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.87 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Energy Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Crooked Creek Dam (completed 1965), built primarily for other on the Crooked Creek; earth-type dam, 20 ft tall and 1,460 ft long.
- Surface area
- 370 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,350 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,500 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 14.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- USDA FS
All listed purposes: Other;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KY05002 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Energy 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-733 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Trigg County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Energy Lake holds Grade D. 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 Trigg County
Frequently asked questions about Energy Lake
Where is Energy Lake?
- Energy Lake is a lake in Trigg County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Energy Lake?
- Energy Lake in Trigg County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Surface area: 370 acres.
Is Energy Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Energy Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Energy Lake?
- Energy Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Taylor Bay, Crooked Creek, Shaw Branch, Energy Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Energy Lake?
- Energy Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Energy Lake 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 Energy Lake across LakeQuality
More Kentucky Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Kentucky
Eutrophic Lakes in Kentucky
Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2015–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX24 samples · 2015–2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles