Herrington Lake
Garrard County, KentuckyView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Herrington Lake in Garrard County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 59.7 µg/L.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 59.7 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Herrington Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Herrington Lake in Garrard 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 Herrington Lake are listed below.
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Herrington Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Garrard 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 2018-10-17. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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. Herrington Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 59.7 µg/L. TSI 63. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 59.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Current Conditions
USGS snapshot Sep 7, 2026, 3:45 PM from gauge 03286000 (HERRINGTON LAKE NEAR BURGIN, KY). Station page ↗ — a live reading replaces this snapshot when the gauge responds. Missing live data is not an all-clear.
→ Herrington Lake water level: the live USGS gauge reading
Fishing Herrington Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Herrington 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-919 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Garrard County
Nearby Lakes in Garrard County
Frequently asked questions about Herrington Lake
Where is Herrington Lake?
- Herrington Lake is a lake in Garrard County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Herrington Lake?
- Herrington Lake in Garrard County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 59.7 µg/L.
Is Herrington Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Herrington Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water level at Herrington Lake?
- The USGS snapshot on this page for Herrington Lake is 738.97 ft of water-surface elevation, recorded Sep 7, 2026, 3:45 PM at gauge 03286000. Current Conditions hydrates a live NWIS reading from that same station when the gauge responds. A missed live fetch is not an all-clear.
Explore Herrington Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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
106 measurements from 6 monitoring stations, 2013–2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX106 samples · 2013–2018
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
Monitoring station identifiers (6)
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