Gaig Lake
Pickens County, Alabama7 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #2 of 4 in the county
- Public access
Gaig Lake in Pickens County, Alabama has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16 µg/L. Surface area: 7 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.8 ft
- Area
- 7 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 16 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Gaig Lake’s letter
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Gaig Lake is a 7-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Pickens 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 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Pickens County, Gaig Lake ranks #2 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 launch2 documented ramps
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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. Gaig 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)
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 16 µg/L. TSI 58. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 16 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Gaig Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Cochrane Recreation AreaPublic
- Cochrane Boat RampPublic
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 | → Stable | -0.012 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.13 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.19 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Gaig Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Gerald Bryant Dam (completed 1988), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the Tr-Tombigbee River; earth-type dam, 17 ft tall and 1,000 ft long.
- Surface area
- 7 ac
- Normal storage
- 39 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 60 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.09 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- GERALD BRYANT
All listed purposes: Fish and Wildlife Pond;Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond;Other.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AL02383 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.67 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Gaig Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit AL03160106-0504-111 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.9 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Pickens County
Nearby Lakes in Pickens County
Frequently asked questions about Gaig Lake
Where is Gaig Lake?
- Gaig Lake is a lake in Pickens 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 Pickens County, Alabama has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16 µg/L. Surface area: 7 acres.
Is Gaig Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Gaig 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 Gaig Lake?
- Gaig Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cochrane Recreation Area, Cochrane Boat 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
128 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
21AWIC128 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory