Panbowl Lake
Breathitt County, Kentucky98 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
Panbowl Lake in Breathitt County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 98.1 acres.
- Area
- 98 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Panbowl Lake’s letter
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Panbowl Lake is a 98-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Breathitt County, Kentucky. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2023-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Panbowl Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. TSI 53. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 98 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Panbowl Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Panbowl Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.75 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Panbowl Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Panbowl Lake (completed 1961), built primarily for recreation on the N. Fork Kentucky River; rockfill-type dam, 46 ft tall and 400 ft long.
- Surface area
- 98.1 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,297.7 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 6,200 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- KENTUCKY TRANSPORTATION CABINET
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KY00108 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Panbowl 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 KY-1448 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Breathitt County
Nearby Lakes in Breathitt County
Frequently asked questions about Panbowl Lake
Where is Panbowl Lake?
- Panbowl Lake is a lake in Breathitt County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Panbowl Lake?
- Panbowl Lake in Breathitt County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 98.1 acres.
Is Panbowl Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Panbowl Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Panbowl Lake across LakeQuality
17.3 mi away · 12 ft
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
22 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2013–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX22 samples · 2013–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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