Fishpond Lake
Letcher County, Kentucky32 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
Fishpond Lake in Letcher County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 31.6 acres.
- Area
- 32 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Fishpond Lake’s letter
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Fishpond Lake is a 32-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Letcher 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 with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2023-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Fishpond Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
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 | 32 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Fishpond Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Fishpond LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Fishpond Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Fishpond Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Fishpond Lake Dam (completed 1964), built primarily for recreation on the Fishpond Creek; rockfill-type dam, 105 ft tall and 385 ft long.
- Surface area
- 31.6 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,037.5 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,400 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.56 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- LETCHER COUNTY FISCAL COURT
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KY00042 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Letcher County
Nearby Lakes in Letcher County
Frequently asked questions about Fishpond Lake
Where is Fishpond Lake?
- Fishpond Lake is a lake in Letcher County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Fishpond Lake?
- Fishpond Lake in Letcher County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 31.6 acres.
Is Fishpond Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Fishpond Lake?
- Fishpond Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fishpond Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Fishpond Lake across LakeQuality
7.6 mi away · 60 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
22 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_WQX22 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.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory