Nees Lake
Cherokee County, Alabama30,200 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #3 of 3 in the county
Nees Lake in Cherokee County, Alabama has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24 µg/L. Surface area: 30200 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.4 ft
- Area
- 30,200 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 35 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 24 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Nees Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Nees Lake in Cherokee County, Alabama — 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 Nees Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Nees Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Nees Lake’s letter
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Nees Lake is a 30,200-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cherokee County, Alabama. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Cherokee County, Nees Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEM, last sampled 2025-10-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Nees Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Big water30,200 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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. Nees Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.4 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 24 µg/L. TSI 61. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 24 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 30,200 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Nees Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Nees Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.028 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.83 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.54 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Nees Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Weiss - Main Dam (completed 1961), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Coosa; earth-type dam, 86 ft tall and 19,253 ft long.
- Surface area
- 30,200 ac
- Normal storage
- 306,400 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 306,400 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 5,273 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Alabama Power Company
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AL01415 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.13 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Nees Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit AL03150106-0201-111 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.47 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Cherokee County
Nearby Lakes in Cherokee County
Frequently asked questions about Nees Lake
Where is Nees Lake?
- Nees Lake is a lake in Cherokee County, Alabama. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Nees Lake?
- Nees Lake in Cherokee County, Alabama has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24 µg/L. Surface area: 30200 acres.
Is Nees Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Nees Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Nees Lake across LakeQuality
14.4 mi away · 90 ft
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Alabama's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Alabama's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Little River Canyon?
Nees Lake is about 22 miles from Little River Canyon National Preserve. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Little River Canyon →More Alabama Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Alabama
Where this data comes from
101 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2016–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- ALABAMA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - WATER QUALITY DATA
21AWIC101 samples · 2016–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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