Piney River Lake
Rhea County, TennesseeView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
- Public access
Piney River Lake in Rhea County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 6.4 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 18 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Piney River Lake’s letter
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Piney River Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Rhea County, Tennessee. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 8 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Rhea County, Piney River Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TDEC, last sampled 2026-06-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Piney River Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch8 documented ramps
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)
Murky, only visible to about 6.4 ft. Phosphorus 18 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Recreation & Access
- RoddyPublic
- Spring City Boat DockPublic
- Rector BranchPublic
- Rhea SpringsPublic
- Piney Point ResortSemi-private
- Terrace View MarinaSemi-private
Showing 6 of 8 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Piney River Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 15 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.103 m/yr | 14 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.95 µg/L/yr | 15 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Rhea County
Nearby Lakes in Rhea County
Frequently asked questions about Piney River Lake
Where is Piney River Lake?
- Piney River Lake is a lake in Rhea County, Tennessee. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Piney River Lake?
- Piney River Lake in Rhea County, Tennessee has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L.
Is Piney River Lake 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 Piney River Lake?
- Piney River Lake has 8 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Roddy, Spring City Boat Dock, Rector Branch, Rhea Springs, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Piney River Lake across LakeQuality
2 documented falls within 14.4 mi, nearest Upper Piney Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Tennessee's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Mesotrophic Lakes in Tennessee
Where this data comes from
154 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- TDEC Division of Water Resources
TDECWR_WQX154 samples · 2012–2026
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P H ~ Manual Digestion and Flow Injection Analysis for Total Phosphorus
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
- 2120 C ~ Color in Water by Spectrophotometry
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