Pennyrile Lake
Christian County, Kentucky47 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↑ up from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 4 in the county
Pennyrile Lake in Christian County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 47.1 acres.
- Area
- 47 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Stays near Pennyrile Lake
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Watch Pennyrile Lake’s letter
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Pennyrile Lake is a 47-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Christian County, Kentucky. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Christian County, Pennyrile Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW, last sampled 2021-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Pennyrile Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 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 | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 47 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Pennyrile Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Pennyrile Lake
- Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park Campground0.8 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 Pennyrile Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.66 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Pennyrile Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Pennyrile Lake (completed 1940), built primarily for recreation on the Clifty Creek; gravity-type dam, 30 ft tall and 200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 47.1 ac
- Normal storage
- 498.7 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 691 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.31 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KY00173 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Christian County
Nearby Lakes in Christian County
Frequently asked questions about Pennyrile Lake
Where is Pennyrile Lake?
- Pennyrile Lake is a lake in Christian County, Kentucky. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Pennyrile Lake?
- Pennyrile Lake in Christian County, Kentucky has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 47.1 acres.
Is Pennyrile Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on Pennyrile Lake?
- Pennyrile Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Pennyrile Forest State Resort 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 Pennyrile Lake across LakeQuality
More Kentucky Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Kentucky
Eutrophic Lakes in Kentucky
Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2016–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- KY WQX
21KY_WQX18 samples · 2016–2021
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles