Hilc Lake
Calhoun County, Alabama35 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 31 ft max depth
Hilc Lake in Calhoun County, Alabama has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16 µg/L. Surface area: 35 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.8 ft
- Max depth
- ~31 ft est.
- Area
- 35 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 16 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 16 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Hilc Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hilc Lake in Calhoun County, Alabama — 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 Hilc Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Hilc Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Hilc Lake’s letter
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Hilc Lake is a 35-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Calhoun County, Alabama with an estimated average depth of about 31 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEM, last sampled 2025-10-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Hilc Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Camping1 public campground nearby
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.8 ft. Phosphorus 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 16 µg/L. TSI 53. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 16 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~31 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~19 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Alabama has not published bathymetry for Hilc Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Hilc Lake
- Good Sam Oxford Campground4.0 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 Hilc Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.063 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.17 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.93 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Hilc Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Choccolocco Creek W/S Dam Site 11 (completed 1971), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Hillabee Creek; earth-type dam, 75 ft tall and 523 ft long.
- Surface area
- 35 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,401 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 13,331 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 16 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF ANNISTON AL
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AL00910 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.07 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Calhoun County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Hilc Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Calhoun County
Frequently asked questions about Hilc Lake
Where is Hilc Lake?
- Hilc Lake is a lake in Calhoun County, Alabama. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Hilc Lake?
- Hilc Lake in Calhoun County, Alabama has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16 µg/L. Surface area: 35 acres.
Is Hilc Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Hilc Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Hilc Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 31 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 35 acres.
Are there campgrounds on Hilc Lake?
- Hilc Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Good Sam Oxford 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 Hilc Lake across LakeQuality
10.9 mi away
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Alabama's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
60 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- ALABAMA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - WATER QUALITY DATA
21AWIC60 samples · 2022–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles