Lake Richard B. Russell
Elbert County, Georgia26,653 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 3 in the county
- Public access
Lake Richard B. Russell in Elbert County, Georgia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.3 µg/L. Surface area: 26653 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.6 ft
- Area
- 26,653 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 8.3 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Richard B. Russell’s letter
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Lake Richard B. Russell is a 26,653-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Elbert 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 12 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Elbert County, Lake Richard B. Russell ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Georgia EPD, last sampled 2025-10-02. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Richard B. Russell is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch12 documented ramps
- Big water26,653 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 6.6 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 8.3 µg/L. TSI 50. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 26,653 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Richard B. Russell, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Bobby Brown State Park CampgroundPublic
- Bobby Brown State Park Day UsePublic
- Fishing Creek RampPublic
- Gill Point Recreation AreaPublic
- Hester Ferry CampgroundPublic
- Morrahs RampPublic
Showing 6 of 12 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 Richard B. Russell
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 | +0.7 µg/L/yr | 13 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Richard B. Russell is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Richard B. Russell Dam (completed 1986), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Savannah River; concrete-type dam, 195 ft tall and 4,524 ft long.
- Surface area
- 26,653 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,026,200 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,488,166 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2,890 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 GA01705 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Elbert County
Nearby Lakes in Elbert County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Richard B. Russell
Where is Lake Richard B. Russell?
- Lake Richard B. Russell is a lake in Elbert 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 Richard B. Russell?
- Lake Richard B. Russell in Elbert County, Georgia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.3 µg/L. Surface area: 26653 acres.
Is Lake Richard B. Russell 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 Richard B. Russell?
- Lake Richard B. Russell has 12 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bobby Brown State Park Campground, Bobby Brown State Park Day Use, Fishing Creek Ramp, Gill Point Recreation Area, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Richard B. Russell across LakeQuality
More Georgia Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Georgia
Eutrophic Lakes in Georgia
Where this data comes from
226 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_WQX226 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