Owsley Fork Reservoir
Madison County, Kentucky152 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- #1 of 3 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Owsley Fork Reservoir in Madison County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Surface area: 151.6 acres.
- Area
- 152 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Owsley Fork Reservoir is a 152-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Madison County, Kentucky. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2018. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Madison County, Owsley Fork Reservoir ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2018-10-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Owsley Fork Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 10 µg/L. TSI 37. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 152 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Owsley Fork Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Owsley Fork ReservoirPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Owsley Fork Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.08 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Owsley Fork Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Red Lick Creek Mps 1 (completed 1974), built primarily for water supply on the Station Camp Creek; earth-type dam, 55 ft tall and 1,350 ft long.
- Surface area
- 151.6 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,215.1 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,057.4 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7.04 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Berea Municipal Utilities
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KY00769 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Madison County
Nearby Lakes in Madison County
Frequently asked questions about Owsley Fork Reservoir
Where is Owsley Fork Reservoir?
- Owsley Fork Reservoir is a lake in Madison County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Owsley Fork Reservoir?
- Owsley Fork Reservoir in Madison County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Surface area: 151.6 acres.
Is Owsley Fork Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Owsley Fork Reservoir?
- Owsley Fork Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Owsley Fork Reservoir. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Owsley Fork Reservoir across LakeQuality
17.9 mi away · 33 ft
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Kentucky's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Kentucky's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Other Grade B Lakes in Kentucky
Oligotrophic Lakes in Kentucky
Where this data comes from
11 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX11 samples · 2013–2018
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
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