Lake Oliver
Muscogee County, Georgia2,280 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
- Public access
Lake Oliver in Muscogee County, Georgia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.8 µg/L. Surface area: 2280 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.1 ft
- Area
- 2,280 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 6.8 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Lake Oliver
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Watch Lake Oliver’s letter
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Lake Oliver is a 2,280-acre mesotrophic lake in Muscogee County, Georgia. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Muscogee County, Lake Oliver ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Georgia EPD, last sampled 2021-09-13. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Oliver is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Big water2,280 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)
Murky, only visible to about 6.1 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.8 µg/L. TSI 49. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 2,280 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Oliver, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Oliver
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 14 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.062 m/yr | 10 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.17 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.97 µg/L/yr | 10 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Oliver is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Oliver (completed 1959), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Chattahoochee; gravity-type dam, 69 ft tall and 2,020.75 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,280 ac
- Normal storage
- 32,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 32,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4,670 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Georgia Power Company
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID GA00837 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Muscogee County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Oliver holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Muscogee County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Oliver
Where is Lake Oliver?
- Lake Oliver is a lake in Muscogee 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 Oliver?
- Lake Oliver in Muscogee County, Georgia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.8 µg/L. Surface area: 2280 acres.
Is Lake Oliver safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Lake Oliver across LakeQuality
More Georgia Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Georgia
Mesotrophic Lakes in Georgia
Where this data comes from
142 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Georgia DNR Environmental Protection Division
21GAEPD_WQX142 samples · 2012–2021
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.