Hiwassee River Lake
Bradley County, Tennessee2 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
Hiwassee River Lake in Bradley County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.3 µg/L. Surface area: 2.3 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.1 ft
- Area
- 2 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 29.3 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Hiwassee River Lake’s letter
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Hiwassee River Lake is a 2-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Bradley County, Tennessee. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TDEC, last sampled 2026-06-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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. Hiwassee River Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.1 ft. Phosphorus 29.3 µg/L. TSI 55. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Hiwassee River Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Hiwassee River Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Hiwassee River Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Bowater #4 Dam (completed 1989) on the Trib-Hiwasse River; earth-type dam, 30 ft tall and 400 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2.3 ac
- Normal storage
- 17 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 31 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.05 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Bowater Newsprint
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID TN10708 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.99 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Hiwassee River 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 TN06020002008_2000 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.57 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Bradley County
Nearby Lakes in Bradley County
Frequently asked questions about Hiwassee River Lake
Where is Hiwassee River Lake?
- Hiwassee River Lake is a lake in Bradley County, Tennessee. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Hiwassee River Lake?
- Hiwassee River Lake in Bradley County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.3 µg/L. Surface area: 2.3 acres.
Is Hiwassee River Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Hiwassee River Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Hiwassee River Lake across LakeQuality
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
171 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2012–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- TDEC Division of Water Resources
TDECWR_WQX171 samples · 2012–2026
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P H ~ Manual Digestion and Flow Injection Analysis for Total Phosphorus
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
- 2120 C ~ Color in Water by Spectrophotometry
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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