Holt Lake
Tuscaloosa County, Alabama3,300 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #9 of 9 in the county
- Public access
Holt Lake in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.7 µg/L. Surface area: 3300 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.7 ft
- Area
- 3,300 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 21 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 14.7 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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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 3,300-acre 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 with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Tuscaloosa County, Holt Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEM, last sampled 2024-10-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Holt Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Big water3,300 acres
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 4.7 ft. Phosphorus 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 14.7 µg/L. TSI 53. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 3,300 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Holt Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Deerlick CreekPublic
- Rock Quarry LandingPublic
- Eagle Cove MarinaSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Holt Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.021 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.21 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.32 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Holt Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Holt Lock and Dam (completed 1968), built primarily for navigation on the Black Warrior River; gravity-type dam, 120 ft tall and 1,400 ft long.
- Surface area
- 3,300 ac
- Normal storage
- 117,990 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 187,400 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4,232 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Mobile District
All listed purposes: Navigation;Recreation;Hydroelectric.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AL01426 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #9 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: 4.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.7 µg/L. Surface area: 3300 acres.
Is Holt Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Holt Lake?
- Holt Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Deerlick Creek, Rock Quarry Landing, Eagle Cove Marina. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Holt Lake across LakeQuality
More Alabama Lake Rankings
Other Grade D 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.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory