Lake Hartwell
Hart County, Georgia55,950 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- Public access
Lake Hartwell in Hart County, Georgia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L. Surface area: 55950 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.5 ft
- Area
- 55,950 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.9 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Hartwell’s letter
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Lake Hartwell is a 55,950-acre mesotrophic lake in Hart County, Georgia. 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 25 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Hart County, Lake Hartwell ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Georgia EPD, last sampled 2025-10-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Hartwell is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch25 documented ramps
- Big water55,950 acres
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.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.9 µg/L. TSI 44. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 55,950 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Hartwell, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Big Oaks Recreation AreaPublic
- Carters FerryPublic
- Cleveland AccessPublic
- Duncan BranchPublic
- Elrod FerryPublic
- Gum BranchPublic
Showing 6 of 25 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Hartwell
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 13 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.001 m/yr | 12 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.21 µg/L/yr | 13 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Hartwell is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hartwell Dam (completed 1962), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Savannah River; concrete-type dam, 204 ft tall and 17,852 ft long.
- Surface area
- 55,950 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,550,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,438,700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2,088 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Savannah District
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Other;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation;Water Supply;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID GA01702 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Hart County
Nearby Lakes in Hart County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Hartwell
Where is Lake Hartwell?
- Lake Hartwell is a lake in Hart County, Georgia. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Hartwell?
- Lake Hartwell in Hart County, Georgia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L. Surface area: 55950 acres.
Is Lake Hartwell 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 Hartwell?
- Lake Hartwell has 25 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Oaks Recreation Area, Carters Ferry, Cleveland Access, Duncan Branch, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Hartwell across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Georgia's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade C Lakes in Georgia
Mesotrophic Lakes in Georgia
Where this data comes from
217 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Georgia DNR Environmental Protection Division
21GAEPD_WQX217 samples · 2013–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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