Lake Columbia
Lake Columbia in Marion County, Mississippi has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.4 µg/L. Surface area: 96 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.9 ft
- Area
- 96 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Lake Columbia is a 96-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Marion County, Mississippi. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Marion County, Lake Columbia ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2021-10-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lake Columbia water quality
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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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 13.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Columbia
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Columbia in Marion County, Mississippi — 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 96 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Columbia, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Lake ColumbiaPublic
Named access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, snapped within 5 km. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Columbia
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Columbia is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Columbia Dam, built primarily for recreation; earth-type dam, 20 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 96 ac
- Max storage
- 990 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE FISHERIES AND PARKS
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MS00541 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Marion County
Nearby Lakes in Marion County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Columbia
Where is Lake Columbia?
- Lake Columbia is a lake in Marion County, Mississippi. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Columbia?
- Lake Columbia in Marion County, Mississippi has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.4 µg/L. Surface area: 96 acres.
Is Lake Columbia safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Lake Columbia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 13.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Columbia?
- Lake Columbia has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Columbia. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Columbia across LakeGrade
More Mississippi Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Mississippi
Eutrophic Lakes in Mississippi
Where this data comes from
53 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21MSWQ_WQX53 samples · 2020–2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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