Gaig Lake
Greene County, Alabama6,400 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 3 in the county
- Public access
Gaig Lake in Greene County, Alabama has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.2 µg/L. Surface area: 6400 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.1 ft
- Area
- 6,400 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 25 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 14.2 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Gaig Lake
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Watch Gaig Lake’s letter
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Gaig Lake is a 6,400-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Greene County, Alabama. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining 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 Greene County, Gaig Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEM, last sampled 2025-10-28. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Gaig Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Big water6,400 acres
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)
Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 14.2 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.2 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 6,400 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Gaig Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Howell Heflin Lock (Lower Pool Ramp)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Gaig Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.043 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.86 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.65 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Gaig Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Howell Heflin Lock and Dam (completed 1978), built primarily for navigation on the Tombigbee; gravity-type dam, 56 ft tall and 816 ft long.
- Surface area
- 6,400 ac
- Normal storage
- 45,290 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 58,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7,212 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- USACE - Mobile District
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AL01980 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.82 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Greene County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Gaig Lake holds Grade C. 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 Greene County
Frequently asked questions about Gaig Lake
Where is Gaig Lake?
- Gaig Lake is a lake in Greene County, Alabama. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Gaig Lake?
- Gaig Lake in Greene County, Alabama has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.2 µg/L. Surface area: 6400 acres.
Is Gaig 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 Gaig Lake?
- Gaig Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Howell Heflin Lock (Lower Pool Ramp). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Gaig Lake across LakeQuality
More Alabama Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Alabama
Where this data comes from
137 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2014–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- ALABAMA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - WATER QUALITY DATA
21AWIC137 samples · 2014–2025
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