Holt Lake
Tuscaloosa County, AlabamaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #8 of 9 in the county
- Public access
Holt Lake in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.6 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4.5 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 27 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 13.6 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Holt Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Holt Lake in Tuscaloosa 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 Holt Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Holt Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Holt Lake’s letter
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Holt Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Tuscaloosa County, Holt Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEM, last sampled 2024-10-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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 4.5 ft. Phosphorus 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 13.6 µg/L. TSI 54. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 27 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Fishing Holt Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.03 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.3 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.74 µg/L/yr | 4 |
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 9 lakes in Tuscaloosa County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Holt Lake holds Grade D. 3 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 Tuscaloosa County
Frequently asked questions about Holt Lake
Where is Holt Lake?
- Holt Lake is a lake in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Holt Lake?
- Holt Lake in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.6 µg/L.
Is Holt Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Holt Lake across LakeQuality
More Alabama Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Alabama
Eutrophic Lakes in Alabama
Where this data comes from
99 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- ALABAMA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - WATER QUALITY DATA
21AWIC99 samples · 2012–2024
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.