Nees Lake
St. Clair County, AlabamaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #3 of 3 in the county
- Public access
Nees Lake in St. Clair County, Alabama has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25.4 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.7 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 35.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 25.4 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Nees Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Nees Lake in St. Clair 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.
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Watch Nees Lake’s letter
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Nees Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Clair County, Alabama. Water quality is graded D 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 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in St. Clair 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.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 35.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 25.4 µg/L. TSI 60. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 25.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
- Neely HenryPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Nees Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.009 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.55 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.7 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in St. Clair County
Nearby Lakes in St. Clair County
Frequently asked questions about Nees Lake
Where is Nees Lake?
- Nees Lake is a lake in St. Clair 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 St. Clair County, Alabama has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25.4 µg/L.
Is Nees Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Nees Lake?
- Nees Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Neely Henry. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Nees Lake across LakeQuality
16.4 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
More Alabama Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Alabama
Where this data comes from
118 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- ALABAMA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - WATER QUALITY DATA
21AWIC118 samples · 2013–2025
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.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory