Lake Gilmer
Upshur County, Texas895 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
- Public access
Lake Gilmer in Upshur County, Texas has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.9 µg/L. Surface area: 895 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Area
- 895 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 38 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 24.9 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Gilmer’s letter
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Lake Gilmer is a 895-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Upshur County, Texas. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Upshur County, Lake Gilmer ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TCEQ, last sampled 2025-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Gilmer is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 24.9 µg/L. TSI 60. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 38 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 24.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 895 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Gilmer, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Lake Gilmer PublicPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Gilmer
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.002 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.74 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.21 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Gilmer is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Gilmer Dam (completed 1996), built primarily for water supply on the Kelsey Creek; earth-type dam, 43 ft tall and 2,200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 895 ac
- Normal storage
- 12,720 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 26,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 35.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF GILMER
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID TX06485 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Upshur County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Gilmer holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Upshur County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Gilmer
Where is Lake Gilmer?
- Lake Gilmer is a lake in Upshur County, Texas. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Gilmer?
- Lake Gilmer in Upshur County, Texas has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.9 µg/L. Surface area: 895 acres.
Is Lake Gilmer safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Gilmer?
- Lake Gilmer has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Gilmer Public. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Gilmer across LakeQuality
More Texas Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Texas
Eutrophic Lakes in Texas
Where this data comes from
130 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
TCEQMAIN130 samples · 2020–2025
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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