General Butler State Park Lake
Carroll County, Kentucky31 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
- Limited data
General Butler State Park Lake in Carroll County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 54.1 µg/L. Surface area: 31 acres.
- Area
- 31 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 54.1 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near General Butler State Park Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near General Butler State Park Lake in Carroll 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 General Butler State Park Lake are listed below.
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Watch General Butler State Park Lake’s letter
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General Butler State Park Lake is a 31-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Carroll County, Kentucky. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2018. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2018-10-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What General Butler State Park Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Camping1 public campground nearby
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. General Butler State Park Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 54.1 µg/L. TSI 62. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 54.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for General Butler State Park Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near General Butler State Park Lake
- General Butler State Resort Park Campground0.6 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 General Butler State Park Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.33 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
General Butler State Park Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the General Butler State Park Lake Dam (completed 1950), built primarily for recreation on the Kentucky River; earth-type dam, 24 ft tall and 385 ft long.
- Surface area
- 31 ac
- Normal storage
- 250 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 560 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KY00049 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
General Butler State Park 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-2693 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Carroll County
Nearby Lakes in Carroll County
Frequently asked questions about General Butler State Park Lake
Where is General Butler State Park Lake?
- General Butler State Park Lake is a lake in Carroll County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for General Butler State Park Lake?
- General Butler State Park Lake in Carroll County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 54.1 µg/L. Surface area: 31 acres.
Is General Butler State Park Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. General Butler State Park Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on General Butler State Park Lake?
- General Butler State Park Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including General Butler State Resort Park 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 General Butler State Park Lake across LakeQuality
2 documented falls within 16.3 mi, nearest Big Clifty Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX12 samples · 2013–2018
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles