Lake Brownwood
Brown County, Texas7,300 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- Public access
Lake Brownwood in Brown County, Texas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.6 µg/L. Surface area: 7300 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.8 ft
- Area
- 7,300 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 45 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 22.6 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Lake Brownwood
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Brownwood in Brown County, Texas — 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 Lake Brownwood are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Brownwood
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Watch Lake Brownwood’s letter
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Lake Brownwood is a 7,300-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Brown County, Texas. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Brown County, Lake Brownwood ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TCEQ, last sampled 2025-10-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Brownwood is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Big water7,300 acres
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)
Very murky, less than 1.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 22.6 µg/L. TSI 63. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 45 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 22.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 7,300 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Brownwood, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Brownwood
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Brownwood is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Brownwood Dam (completed 1933), built primarily for water supply on the Pecan Bayou; earth-type dam, 120 ft tall and 1,580 ft long.
- Surface area
- 7,300 ac
- Normal storage
- 131,429 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,011,829 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,544 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BROWN COUNTY WID 1
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID TX02789 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Brown County
Nearby Lakes in Brown County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Brownwood
Where is Lake Brownwood?
- Lake Brownwood is a lake in Brown County, Texas. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Brownwood?
- Lake Brownwood in Brown County, Texas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.6 µg/L. Surface area: 7300 acres.
Is Lake Brownwood safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Lake Brownwood across LakeQuality
More Texas Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Texas
Eutrophic Lakes in Texas
Where this data comes from
109 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
TCEQMAIN109 samples · 2020–2025
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.