Lake Allatoona
Cherokee County, GeorgiaView mapDirections
Georgia EPD publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Allatoona. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- Public access
Lake Allatoona in Cherokee County, Georgia has water-quality measurements published by Georgia EPD, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19 µg/L.
Lake Allatoona is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cherokee County, Georgia. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Cherokee County, Lake Allatoona ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Georgia EPD, last sampled 2025-10-15. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Lake Allatoona has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Lake Allatoona on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Lake Allatoona is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Allatoona is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, metals (other than mercury), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lake Allatoona is safe to swim in today is a call for the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Lake Allatoona
These are the measurements Georgia EPD publishes for Lake Allatoona, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 3.8 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 19 µg/L. TSI 57.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 30µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 19µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 57 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lake Allatoona
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
→ Lake Allatoona water level: the live USGS gauge reading
Recreation & Access
- Cherokee Mills - Little RiverPublic
- Little River MarinaSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Lake Allatoona
- Payne Campground-Allatoona Lake4.2 kmReserve
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
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Allatoona
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Allatoona in Cherokee County, Georgia — 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Lake Allatoona are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Allatoona
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Allatoona → · more Georgia lake trips
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Fishing Lake Allatoona
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 14 years of monitoring (2012–2025).
Water clarity
Stable14 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.36 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+1.65 µg/L/yr14 years
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Allatoona is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Drinking water, Aquatic life, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit GAR031501040809 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Cherokee County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Allatoona
Where is Lake Allatoona?
- Lake Allatoona is a lake in Cherokee County, Georgia. Its water-quality measurements are published by Georgia EPD and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lake Allatoona?
- Lake Allatoona in Cherokee County, Georgia has water-quality measurements published by Georgia EPD, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19 µg/L.
Is Lake Allatoona safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Allatoona is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, metals (other than mercury), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Allatoona?
- Lake Allatoona has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cherokee Mills - Little River, Little River Marina. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Allatoona?
- Lake Allatoona has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Georgia's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Lake Allatoona?
- Lake Allatoona has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Payne Campground-Allatoona Lake. 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 Lake Allatoona across LakeQuality
Planning a trip around Chattahoochee River?
Lake Allatoona is about 20 miles from Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Chattahoochee River →More lakes in Georgia
Other Lakes in Georgia
Eutrophic Lakes in Georgia
Where this data comes from
250 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Georgia DNR Environmental Protection Division
21GAEPD_WQX250 samples · 2012–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles