Mckellar Lake
Shelby County, TennesseeView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Dioxins
- #1 of 1 in the county
Mckellar Lake in Shelby County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 76 µg/L.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 76 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Mckellar Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mckellar Lake in Shelby County, Tennessee — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Mckellar Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Mckellar Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Mckellar Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Shelby County, Tennessee. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TDEC, last sampled 2026-06-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Mckellar Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Mckellar Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for dioxins, mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pathogens (E. coli, fecal), pesticides, pCBs, sediment / turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 76 µg/L. TSI 67. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 76 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Mckellar Lake
- T O Fuller State Park Campground2.4 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Mckellar Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Mckellar Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit TN08010100001_1200 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Shelby County
Nearby Lakes in Shelby County
Frequently asked questions about Mckellar Lake
Where is Mckellar Lake?
- Mckellar Lake is a lake in Shelby County, Tennessee. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Mckellar Lake?
- Mckellar Lake in Shelby County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 76 µg/L.
Is Mckellar Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Mckellar Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for dioxins, mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pathogens (E. coli, fecal), pesticides, pCBs, sediment / turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on Mckellar Lake?
- Mckellar Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including T O Fuller State Park Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Mckellar Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Tennessee's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade D Lakes in Tennessee
Lake County · Nutrient-rich
Obion County · Nutrient-rich
Obion County · Nutrient-rich
Decatur County · Nutrient-rich
Benton County · Nutrient-rich
Humphreys County · Nutrient-rich
Eutrophic Lakes in Tennessee
Where this data comes from
65 measurements from 10 monitoring stations, 2015–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- TDEC Division of Water Resources
TDECWR_WQX65 samples · 2015–2026
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (10)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles