Mare Lake
Randolph County, Alabama10,661 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 4 in the county
Mare Lake in Randolph County, Alabama has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Surface area: 10661 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Area
- 10,661 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 12 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 5.3 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Watch Mare Lake’s letter
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Mare Lake is a 10,661-acre mesotrophic lake in Randolph County, Alabama. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Randolph County, Mare Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEM, last sampled 2023-10-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Mare Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.5 ft of visibility
- Big water10,661 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.3 µg/L. TSI 43. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 12 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 10,661 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Mare Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Mare Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.017 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.47 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Mare Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the R. L. Harris (completed 1983), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Tallapoosa River; gravity-type dam, 163 ft tall and 2,142 ft long.
- Surface area
- 10,661 ac
- Normal storage
- 426,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 426,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,453 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Alabama Power Company
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AL83001 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.05 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Randolph County
Nearby Lakes in Randolph County
Frequently asked questions about Mare Lake
Where is Mare Lake?
- Mare Lake is a lake in Randolph County, Alabama. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Mare Lake?
- Mare Lake in Randolph County, Alabama has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Surface area: 10661 acres.
Is Mare Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Mare Lake across LakeQuality
More Alabama Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Alabama
Mesotrophic Lakes in Alabama
Where this data comes from
107 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2015–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- ALABAMA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - WATER QUALITY DATA
21AWIC107 samples · 2015–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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.